Skip to main content
Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

U.N. warns of starvation in Syrian towns, demands access

This image made from aerial drone footage released by the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, July 4, 2016 shows destruction in Ramadi, Iraq. New aerial footage of Ramadi shows the scale of the destruction as ICRC's president called on leaders to protect civilians and help channel assistance to families. When Iraqi government forces backed by U.S.-led warplanes wrested this city from Islamic State militants after eight months of IS control, it was heralded as a major victory. But the cost of winning Ramadi has been the city itself. (ICRC via AP)
This image made from aerial drone footage released by the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, July 4, 2016 shows destruction in Ramadi, Iraq. New aerial footage of Ramadi shows the scale of the destruction as ICRC's president called on leaders to protect civilians and help channel assistance to families. When Iraqi government forces backed by U.S.-led warplanes wrested this city from Islamic State militants after eight months of IS control, it was heralded as a major victory. But the cost of winning Ramadi has been the city itself. (ICRC via AP) This image made from aerial drone footage released by the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, July 4, 2016 shows destruction in Ramadi, Iraq. New aerial footage of Ramadi shows the scale of the destruction as ICRC's president called on leaders to protect civilians and help channel assistance to families. When Iraqi government forces backed by U.S.-led warplanes wrested this city from Islamic State militants after eight months of IS control, it was heralded as a major victory. But the cost of winning Ramadi has been the city itself. (ICRC via AP)

By Associated Press 4 min read

BEIRUT (AP) – The top U.N. official in Syria on Monday demanded immediate and unconditional humanitarian access to tens of thousands of people trapped in four towns, warning of starvation.

The International Committee of the Red Cross meanwhile released drone footage showing extensive damage to Ramadi, which was taken back from the Islamic State group in December after heavy fighting that devastated much of the Iraqi city.

Aid must be allowed to reach Madaya, Zabadani, Foua, and Kafraya, the U.N.’s resident coordinator, Yacoub El Hillo, said in Damascus. Madaya and Zabadani, just outside the capital, are encircled by pro-government forces, while rebels are blockading Foua and Kafraya, in the country’s northwest.

The towns have been besieged since last year, with aid convoys allowed only sporadically to replenish food and medical stocks. The last delivery was made in April.

Aid group Doctors Without Borders says 16 people died in Madaya from siege conditions in January, even after aid was allowed in. El Hillo said the U.N. is “calling on all parties involved to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”