UN Chief Urges U.S., Russia To Help Unblock Syria Aid

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the United States and Russia to push all warring sides in Syria to allow safe passage for desperately needed aid to besieged civilians.

Ban said on September 14 that 20 trucks loaded with food and other supplies were still at the Turkish border, 48 hours into a cease-fire, awaiting the all-clear for the journey to the city of Aleppo.

"It's crucially important [that] the necessary security arrangements" are made so the convoy can travel, Ban said.

"I have been urging the Russian government to make sure that they exercise influence on the Syrian government, and also the American side to make sure that Syrian armed groups, they also fully cooperate."

Since the cease-fire came into effect at sunset on September 12, accusations have been made against both rebels and government forces of sporadically violating it, but it appears to have largely held.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has recorded no casualties in the first 48 hours of the truce.

Based on reporting by AFP and the BBC