Syria: ICRC condemns attack on humanitarian convoy

Damascus/Geneva (ICRC) - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) strongly condemns an attack on Saturday against a humanitarian convoy on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria that wounded a staff member of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

The 37-truck convoy from the ICRC, Syrian Arab Red Crescent, and the United Nations was to deliver food, medicine and daily essentials to 11,000 people in the town of East Harasta.

As the convoy approached the town at around 7 pm, a shooting took place and a staff member of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent was seriously wounded. The ICRC reminds all parties in Syria of their obligations to protect and respect humanitarians as well as the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems.

Residents in East Harasta have not received any humanitarian aid for nearly eight months. Renewed security guarantees are needed in order to proceed with this planned aid delivery. The ICRC remains committed to responding to people's needs in East Harasta and elsewhere in Syria.

For further information, please contact:

Ingy Sedky, ICRC Damascus, +963 930 336 718

Iolanda Jaquemet, ICRC Geneva +41 79 447 37 26