Syria barring humanitarian mission to Daraa, UN says
Syria has not granted a United Nations humanitarian mission access to the southern city of Daraa, where Syrian armed forces were deployed to crush anti-government protests, a UN spokesman said on Monday.
“The [UN] humanitarian assessment mission has not been able to get into Daraa,” spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters. “We’re trying to clarify why it hasn’t had access, and we’re also trying to get access to other areas of Syria.” Asked if the UN felt that Syria had reneged on a prior agreement to allow it into Daraa, Mr. Haq said: “We’re trying to get the clarification as to why it hasn’t gotten in. Let’s see whether they can get in in the coming days.”