The Russian Foreign Ministry commented on the delivery of WFP humanitarian cargo to Idlib

“On August 30, within the framework of the UN World Food Program (WFP) operation, the first consignment of humanitarian cargo (9,600 food kits) was dispatched from Aleppo to the settlement of Sarmada in Idlib through the contact lines.

In total, it is planned to deliver 27,000 such kits from the interior of Syria to the de-escalation zone by mid-September.

This will help 50,000 civilians, ”the message says.

"It is noted that this action was one of the first practical results of the implementation of resolution 2585, unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council on July 9, in the document, in particular, the need to improve humanitarian supplies to various regions of the SAR from Damascus through the contact lines is clearly spelled out."

“This is precisely the order of assistance that is consistent with international humanitarian law and guidelines for assistance.

Moscow notes with satisfaction the successful completion of the first stage of the WFP operation and counts on its timely completion.

It is also important to quickly develop a reliable mechanism for distributing cargo among those in need in order to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham * terrorists who control the de-escalation zone, ”the ministry said.

The ministry recalled that "the SAR government agreed to conduct this operation in early May, as well as the dispatch of a joint UN / ICRC / JSCR humanitarian convoy, which was supposed to leave for the de-escalation zone in April 2020."

“Until recently, their implementation rested on the refusal of illegal armed formations in Idlib, thus defending the alleged lack of alternative to the cross-border mechanism violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the SAR.

In this regard, we stand for the continuation of active international efforts to establish normal humanitarian access to Idlib and other areas in the north of the SAR through the contact lines, as well as for the good faith implementation of other provisions of UNSCR 2585, including those related to the expansion of humanitarian activities through projects on early restoration, increasing its transparency and supporting the Syrians in the fight against the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, ”the Foreign Ministry added.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin and UN Secretary General's Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen discussed the situation in the SAR.

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