Russia Delivers Record Amount of Humanitarian Aid to Hama, Syria

Russian troops have set a record, delivering 16 metric tons of humanitarian aid to Hama province in Syria.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian servicemen have delivered a record amount of humanitarian aid to Hama province, a spokesman for the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation at Hmeimim airbase said.

"We have delivered a record amount of humanitarian aid – 16 [metric] tons. Flour, grain, canned fish and bread baked at a government bakery in the city of Hama from our [Russian] flour," Col. Sergei Ivanov told reporters. The aid also included candy for children.

According to Ivanov, despite terrorists’ attempts to disrupt the ceasefire in Hama, the reconciliation process continues.

"The military situation in this region is very complex, but the ceasefire process is not stopping. There are militants who want to join the side of the government forces," Ivanov said.

With the assistance of the Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation, 16 women and four children abducted in the town of al-Zara in Hama province by Jabhat al-Nusra (Nusra Front) and Ahrar ash-Sham militants have been freed, according to Ivanov.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups.

A US-Russia-brokered ceasefire agreement came into force across Syria on February 27. The deal does not apply to terrorist groups such as Daesh (ISIL/ISIS) and Jabhat al-Nusra, both of which are outlawed in Russia and a range of other states.