UK Middle East minister Tobias Ellwood urged Friday Russia to apply pressure on the Syrian regime to allow and assure the delivery of humanitarian aid to all besieged areas.

Ellwood said it is unacceptable that 400,000 people live in such appalling conditions under siege in Syria.

He added that the UNSC session on Friday will focus on Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime hindering the delivery of the humanitarian assistance.

The UK minister prodded all parties that have influence on the Syrian regime, especially Russia, to assure the immediate delivery of the humanitarian aid to the besieged areas and its distribution to Syrian people without any obstacles.

Up to 4.5 million people in Syria live in hard-to-reach areas, including nearly 400,000 people in 15 besieged locations with no access to life-saving aid.

Opposition groups have said they want the siege imposed on rebel-held areas lifted before beginning negotiations with the government on a political solution to the conflict, which has left more than 250,000 people dead.

Source: MENA