Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-06-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the feasibility of air drops of humanitarian aid in Syria; and what her Department’s strategy is for ensuring humanitarian aid is delivered to Syria after the passing of the UN deadline on 1 June 2016.
Sir Desmond Swayne
The UK continues to press for sustained access to all besieged and hard to reach areas. We are also pressing for an end to the removal of medical equipment from convoys by the regime, the evacuation of critical medical cases and regular access to healthcare for besieged populations.
Since the passing of the ISSG’s 1st June deadline, there has been some progress, including regime approval in principle for land access to all of the areas requested in the UN’s access plan for June. The Syrian regime must now deliver on its commitment to allow land access to all besieged areas.
The international community will be watching progress closely. If the regime continues to block access, the UK and other ISSG members will consider further action to ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered.
