The UN's World Food Programme raised alarm on Tuesday that escalating violence in Syria could derail a fragile truce that has helped facilitate increased aid deliveries. In an interview with AFP in Damascus, the WFP's deputy regional head Matthew Hollingworth said the UN and aid agencies hoped the truce - which came into force on February 27 - could hold.
"The cease-fire has been so important over the last weeks because it has given people a lot more than simply access to markets, access to assistance. It has given them hope," Hollingworth said. "The end of the ceasefire would dash that hope," he said. The truce between the regime and non-jihadist rebels has seen fighting drop in northern and central Syria, allowing UN agencies to deliver desperately needed aid.
About 4.5 million people are living in besieged or hard-to-reach areas in Syria, according to the UN. In March, the UN was able to deliver aid to 83,000 people in hard-to-reach areas - up from 53,000 in February. "They are really at the end of their tether. The difficulties that they are facing are enormous," Hollingworth said. "If the ceasefire does end, then clearly we will have to find other ways to have access to people.