ICRC reveals details of Syrian aid access

The International Committee of the Red Cross has divulged details about his enhanced access to Syria after its president, Jakob Kellenberger, travelled to the country and met senior officials including Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem. "The ICRC sent eight trucks of assistance to Homs on Monday. Distribution of aid continues daily, thanks to the efforts of the volunteers of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. This is the second ICRC convoy to reach Homs this month and another two are planned over the coming couple of weeks. The aid consists of food parcels, hygienic material, mattresses and blankets meant to assist some 24,000 persons affected by the fighting," said ICRC UK spokesperson Sean Maguire. "The Syrian government and the ICRC agreed last week that the ICRC's presence and activities in Syria will further expand. That increase in personnel and logisitical resources is set for the end of April or early May. It is in response to the increasing demands and needs of the population in various parts of the country, particularly in the areas of unrest. The expansion also involves increasing support to the SARC to strengthen its capacity and expand its operations. It is worth noting that over the past year, the size of the ICRC team working in Syria has already more than tripled," said Maguire. During the ICRC president's visit to Syria last week, an agreement was reached on procedures for visits to places of detention. It was agreed the ICRC would soon visit Aleppo Central Prison, in line with "standard ICRC ways of working". Last week the ICRC also agreed with the Syrian authorities that a humanitarian halt of fighting would be activated upon the organisation's request should the need arise, like to evacuate the sick and the wounded; to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance. "It is when we are unable to access areas of unrest to help people that such a pause will be requested. We have not tested this yet and cannot speculate on when it will be needed. This will depend on how the situation develops on the ground in different parts of the country, as well as our access to those in need of assistance in a given area and at a particular time," said Maguire. The ICRC, which reportedly has contacts with the opposition, said it would address it "in parallel with the Syrian authorities should a ceasefire be needed for humanitarian reasons".