US, UK explore possibility of aid airdrops in Syria

The US and UK have been holding talks to explore ways to airdrop food and medical supplies to eastern Aleppo and other besieged populations in Syria.

The talks have been going on for months in Washington and have considered a broad range of possibilities, from parachute drops to creating an air bridge with drone flights, and even flying in edible drones that can be taken apart and eaten, The Guardian said. 

However, the discussions have been mired in disagreements between government agencies, the reluctance of the military to get involved and concern among officials that flying in aid without permission from the Damascus regime and its allies could hamper conventional humanitarian deliveries.

However, as the talks have stalled, the plight of the people of eastern Aleppo has steadily become more desperate. No road convoy has got through to the enclave for five months, hospitals have all been destroyed and rebel-held areas are under constant bombardment.

A meeting in the UK embassy last week was intended to inject some momentum to the discussions and get some decisions made. It was introduced by the ambassador, Kim Darroch, and brought US and British officials together, in addition to humanitarian drone specialists from the private sector.

But by the time the meeting took place almost half of eastern Aleppo had been overrun, and there were fears that by the time any drone-borne aid finally took to the air, there would be no one there left to save.

“There was talk in private that all this was too late,” said one of the participants.

Syrian government forces have taken control of more than half of Aleppo’s rebel districts after fierce bombardments and ground advances forced tens of thousands to flee last week.

Source: MENA