Egypt is making contacts to support efforts aiming at lifting a siege imposed on a number of Syrian towns where residents are starving to death, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said on Friday.

The towns of Madaya, Muadamiyat al-Sham, Kefraya and Foah are reported to have been under siege due to the ongoing conflict in Syria.

"The available information that a deal was reached to allow humanitarian aid by the UN into these towns is encouraging," the spokesman said.

Starvation and siege are banned in the armed conflicts and are condemned by international law and conventions, which stipulate protecting civilians during wars, he stressed.

Source: MENA