UN Calls for Time Out to Feed Starving Population of Besieged Syrian Towns

An immediate and unconditional humanitarian pause is urgently needed in Syria where 400,000 people are at risk of starving to death inside besieged towns, a UN rapporteur on the right to food said Tuesday.

UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) – A total of 15 locations throughout Syria are under siege by rebel and government forces without access to food. Over 4 million people living in hard-to-reach areas face a threat of starvation as winter progresses.

"An immediate and unconditional humanitarian pause in hostilities must be put in place to allow humanitarian aid and food to reach everyone in Syria," UN Special Rapporteur Hilal Elver said, adding that the deliberate starvation of civilians was a war crime.

Russia has recently sent 22 tons of humanitarian aid to the besieged area of Deir ez-Zor, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vladimir Safronkov told the UN Security Council on Saturday.