Aid convoy denied entry to besieged city near Damascus

An aid convoy was denied entry to a besieged city near the capital Damascus on Thursday, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said.

A joint aid convoy of the ICRC, Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) and the United Nations in Syria was refused entry to the city of Daraya west of Damascus on Thursday, said the ICRC in a statement.

Despite having obtained prior clearance, the convoy was denied entry to the city at the last government checkpoint, said the statement.

The convoy was planning to deliver essential medical supplies, nutrition items for children, and to distribute hygiene materials.

"This would have been the first ever aid delivery to the Daraya, which has been under siege since November 2012," according to the statement.

Daraya was among the first cities to fall in the quagmire of war at the beginning of the five-year-old conflict.

Like in any other rebel-held area near sensitive positions, the Syrian army has imposed a siege to the city, preventing people from entering or leaving.

Source: XINHUA