The United Nations estimates that well over half a million people are living under siege in Syria, whose five-year conflict has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced more than 11 million. The United Nations says it must get permission for most of its aid deliveries from Damascus. The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, said on Tuesday the United Nations was still waiting for Damascus to issue letters authorising aid deliveries. A Turkish official said no further trucks were expected to cross the border on Wednesday until the situation became clearer. Swanson said the United Nations was also ready to deliver aid to "other besieged and hard-to-reach locations ... but only once access is possible".

Source: The Star September 14, 2016 16:07 UTC