The United Nations Humanitarian Chief accused Damascus leadership of stalling aid deliveries to Syrian civilians in need Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
Valerie Amos told the UN Security Council in New York Thursday that the Syrian government "[has imposed] arbitrary restrictions and obstructions" on aid deliveries, including bans on life-saving medical supplies as well as shipments to rebel-held areas.
More than 10.8 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 4.7 million in what have been designated as "hard-to-reach areas."
"Four years into this war," Amos said, "we are unable to sustainably reach nearly half of those identified as being in the direst need."
Amos did note that some rebel groups also impeded aid developments. "Some opposition groups have also attacked, threatened and refused to cooperate with humanitarian workers," she said.
Amos has called for more cross-border aid shipments from Turkey, Jordan and Iraq to meet the need gap.
