The United States said on Wednesday that any long-term disruption to the flow of humanitarian aid into Syria would be a source of concern, after Aleppo airport was taken out of service due to an Israeli air strike.
The airport was contributing to the delivery of aid to those affected by last month's devastating earthquake that claimed thousands of lives.
The United Nations said the Syrian Ministry of Transport had rerouted all flights carrying earthquake relief aid to Damascus and Latakia.
For his part, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said he could not "say who is responsible" for the air strike that took place last Tuesday, but said that any long-term disruption to the flow of humanitarian aid would be a source of concern for the United States.
Serious humanitarian repercussions
In turn, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the United Nations, said that the closure of the airport may have "serious humanitarian repercussions for the residents of Aleppo, which is one of the Syrian governorates worst affected by the earthquake, and may also affect the most vulnerable groups among the population who are in need of humanitarian assistance." ".
He added that flights of the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service to Aleppo had been suspended, noting that these flights transport relief personnel and vital life-saving supplies and should be resumed without delay.
"We call on all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law, including taking all feasible precautions to protect civilians and civilian property during hostilities," he said.
And Syrian state media reported that foreign donors - including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Algeria and Iran - had transported air aid to Aleppo airport since the February 6 earthquake.