France says humanitarian aid delivered to Eastern Ghouta in Syria

PARIS, July 23 (KUNA) -- France said on Monday that humanitarian aid deliveries began on July 20 to the beleaguered Eastern Ghouta area near the Syrian capital, Damascus, as part of a Franco-Russian agreement reached in May to help the Syrian population.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian leader Vladimir Putin discussed coordination of humanitarian aid in Eastern Ghouta when they met last May in Russia, and the two sides earlier this month announced a concrete project to carry out deliveries of basic necessitates.
Paris announced Monday that over 50 tons of French humanitarian aid were shipped for the Eastern Ghouta area three days ago aboard a Russian aircraft, underlining the cooperation between the two countries.
"The humanitarian cargo provided by France consists of medical equipment and basic necessities. On Saturday it was turned over to the UN, which will supervise its distribution. The aid will be transported to Eastern Ghouta and distributed there in accordance with international humanitarian law, as swiftly as possible," a French Foreign Ministry statement indicated.
"Humanitarian assistance is an absolute priority; it must be provided according to the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence - throughout Syria, without exception, where international humanitarian law must be fully respected," the statement added, quoting UN Resolutions on Syria. (end) jk.bs