Syria - For the first time in four years, this week (18/05) Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) trucks loaded with UN, ICRC and IOM food, nutritional supplements, medical, educational and hygiene supplies were mobilized from Damascus to provide assistance in besieged area of east Harasta in Rural Damascus (less than 15 km north of Damascus).

It is estimated that 10,000 people will benefit from the supplies. IOM provided 25 wheelchairs for children and adults with disabilities. IOM staff were also part of the convoy.

Since January 2016, IOM aid delivery through inter-agency channels has reached nine besieged towns, assisting over 39,500 most vulnerable persons in:

• Bloudan and Moadamiyet Elsham in Rural Damascus through provision of essential non-food items (NFIs)
• Afrin, Big Orm and Tall Rifaat in Aleppo through provision of wheelchairs, crutches, and/or NFIs
• Kafr Laha in Homs through provision of primary health care equipment and supplies and NFIs
• Ar Rastan and Talbieseh in Homs through provision of wheelchairs and crutches.

IOM, as part of the Humanitarian Country Team in Syria, continues to work towards providing assistance to those in besieged and hard to reach locations inside Syria.

The above IOM activities are supported by the Government of Australia, ECHO, and US-OFDA.

For further information please contact IOM Syria. Maria Rumman, Tel: +963 9333 11204, Email: mrumman@iom.int  or Firas Hamarneh, Tel: + 963 933311202, Email: fhamarneh@iom.int