Middle East News

United Nations suspends aid convoys in Syria after deadly attack

The United Nations has said all aid convoys in Syria have been suspended after a deadly attack that hit at least 18 trucks carrying supplies

The United Nations has suspended all aid convoys in Syria after a deadly attack that hit at least 18 trucks carrying supplies.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said 21 people died in the attack, including one Syrian Arab Red Crescent staff member, as they were unloading trucks carrying humanitarian aid.

“The temporary suspension of aid will stay in force while the security situation is being reviewed in Syria,” a spokesperson for the UN said.

“It has been a “very, very dark day” for aid agencies around the world,” he added.

The attack on the convoy left aid supplies damaged beyond use and strewn over the ground (Image: AP)
The attack on the convoy left aid supplies damaged beyond use and strewn over the ground (Image: AP)

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the attack was carried out by either the Syrian government or the Russian military.

Russia’s ministry of defence has denied that Russian or Syrian military aircraft attacked the aid convoy.

Boxes of medical supplies were destroyed, shortly after unloading (Image: Reuters)
Boxes of medical supplies were destroyed, shortly after unloading (Image: Reuters)

The UN has said the attack could amount to a war crime if it was deliberate.

“Let me be clear, if this callous attack is found to be a deliberate targeting of humanitarians, it would amount to a war crime,” UN aid chief Stephen O’Brien said.

The attack happened late Monday evening, hours after Syria’s military declared an end to the week-long ceasefire.

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