Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the merits of providing aid drops to alleviate food and medical supply scarcity in the Eastern Ghouta region in Syria.
Aid delivered by road by trusted humanitarian partners is by far the most effective way to meet needs in Eastern Ghouta and to ensure that it reaches those most in need. Airdrops are high risk and not capable of delivering many of the types of aid on a scale that could meet key needs there (e.g. safe drinking water, shelter, health support). Crucially, the consent is needed of those who control the airspace and those on the ground that could threaten aircraft. There is nothing to suggest that the Assad regime would provide such consent if it remained intent on blocking land access.