"I am hopeful that this would be a turning point to the better, and that will not happen any longer that besieged areas are staying without any assistance… I have never before seen such a decision to endorse air drops if convoys are not allowed," Egeland said.
He described his hope "that ISSG members would now much more energetically and consistently ensure they are able to deliver in the coming weeks aid to all of the besieged areas without any exceptions."
On Tuesday, the ISSG issued a joint communique summarizing the decisions made at the recent ministerial meeting.
The ISSG called for concrete steps to ensure the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to the following besieged and hard-to-reach areas: Douma, Arbeen, Darraya, East Harasta, Mouadhimiyeh, Zabadin and Zamalka.
If humanitarian convoys are denied access to any of the designated besieged areas the World Food Program should start air drops from June 1, the ISSG said.
The ISSG also decided that in cases where humanitarian access is systematically denied, the UN Security Council should be informed about it through Staffan de Mistura.
