Ban urges warring sides to allow aid into Syria

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Russia and the US to Russia to urge warring sides to allow the passage of desperately needed aid into the besieged areas of Syria.

Lorries of aid aimed for 40,000 people are stuck at the Turkish border two days into the ceasefire.

Disagreements between warring sides and safety concerns are delaying the entry of aid, the UN said.

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad’s regime was also criticised for trying to control the flow of aid.

“It’s crucially important [that] the necessary security arrangements” are made so the convoy can travel, Ban said.

“I have been urging the Russian government to make sure that they exercise influence on the Syrian government, and also the American side to make sure that Syrian armed groups, they also fully co-operate.”