UN Suspends All Syria Aid After Convoys Bombed

MEP: The United Nations has suspended all humanitarian convoys to Syria after deadly air strike on its aid trucks near Aleppo on Monday.

The UN humanitarian aid spokesman Jens Laerke said: “As an immediate security measure, other convoy movements in Syria have been suspended for the time being, pending further assessment of the security situation.”

Speaking at a news conference in Geneva on Tuesday, Laerke added that the UN had recently received permission from the Syrian government to deliver aid to all besieged areas in the country.

At least 12 people were after several aid trucks were targeted near Aleppo after a week-old ceasefire. Eighteen of the 31 lorries, containing wheat, winter clothes and medical supplies, were destroyed.

A senior official of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent ‘Omar Barakat’ was among a number of civilians killed.

The ICRC president, Peter Maurer, said: “Yesterday’s attack was a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and it is unacceptable. Failing to protect humanitarian workers and structures might have serious repercussions on humanitarian work in the country.”

The United States said it was unclear if it was a Russian or Syrian plane that hit the 31-truck UN aid convoy, but officials placed the blame on Moscow, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Aid deliveries to besieged areas had been a key part of the cessation of hostilities deal brokered last week.

The convoy was being unloaded at a Red Crescent warehouse when it came under attack. It had been due to deliver aid for 78,000 people in rebel-held areas near Aleppo.