(MENAFN- QNA) The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is concerned about reports that some humanitarian aid was not reaching the intended recipients from civilians in war-torn Syria.
The rebel Syrian National Coalition claimed that U.N.-marked food and medical relief materials were found in areas previously controlled by government forces.
"UNICEF is extremely concerned at reports that some of its humanitarian supplies in Syria have not reached their intended destination," U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters, adding that UNICEF is trying to verify these reports, including the authenticity of a photo of the alleged diversion of relief items and where it was taken.
"At a time when so many children in Syria are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, it is absolutely vital that aid reaches children and families in need and not get diverted. And so UNICEF will continue trying to use all means possible to track down and verify the delivery of humanitarian supplies," The U.N. spokesman said.
"Inevitably, in a time of conflict, some aid gets diverted, and that happens in many conflicts, but we'll continue to try to track down and see what is happening," he added.
The U.N. estimates that around 220,000 people have been killed, 7.6 million displaced and 4 million fled the country since the outbreak of the civil war in Syria.
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