(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) The United Nations admitted it has mistakenly sent a cargo of expired biscuits to Syrian, as part of a relief convoy earlier this month.
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria,Yacoub El Hillo, said in a statement Saturday "We can confirm that this was the result of an unfortunate human error during the loading process." A total of 320 out of 650 boxes of high energy biscuits sent to Zabadani and Madaya on Oct.18 had expired a month earlier, the UN official explained.
He said the U.N. Syria team is taking the issue "very seriously" and working with its humanitarian partners to rectify the situation, but added that medical sources had confirmed that eating the expired biscuits would pose no health threats.
The aid convoy that went into Zabadani and Madaya was a rare instance of assistance reaching besieged areas near Damascus during a cease-fire between Syrian government forces and their allies and insurgents.
The U.N. statement came after concerns were raised that children consuming the expired biscuits could become sick.
El Hillo said the U.N. has sent a request to all parties involved, including the Syrian government, to facilitate immediate access to the areas to replace the biscuits and allow medical personnel to examine and treat potential patients.
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