The Syrian National Coalition’s Representative to the Benelux and EU, Mouaffaq Nyrabia, expressed concern over reports that airdrops delivered by WFP to Deir Ez-Zor have been seized by Assad’s forces. Nyrabia urged the UN to investigate this incident.
Nyrabia said that “technical issues with the airdrop raise serious questions over the decision to select a Russian contractor airliner to undertake the task.”
“To ensure humanitarian airdrops deliver aid to civilians who need it most, the aircraft used must be selected on the basis of their capability to conduct airdrops effectively, and not on terms dictated by Russia,” Nyrabia added.
Nyrabia also said that “where parties are unwilling or unable to provide the UN with the appropriate means to undertake airdrops successfully, we urge our international partners to commence unilateral steps to ensure that urgently needed assistance is being delivered to the over 1 million Syrians still living under siege.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)
