A UN-International Committee of the Red Cross-Syrian Arab Red Crescent inter-agency convoy is delivering multi-sectoral assistance to the Wadi Barada area in rural Damascus for 24,500 people in need.

"This is the first ever inter-agency convoy to reach the area, and follows several attempts to reach the area over the last few months that were unsuccessful, due to administrative and security hurdles," deputy UN spokesman Farhan Haq said at daily news briefing here Friday.

"The UN continues to call for safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to all in need in Syria, particularly those in hard-to-reaches and besieged areas," Haq said.

"The UN is deeply concerned for the safety and protection of civilians following reports of fierce fighting in the north-eastern governorate of Hama over the last few days, as well as those in eastern Ghouta," he said.

Since the Syria conflict began in March 2011, an estimated 400,000 people have lost their lives, with millions forced to flee their homes.

source: Xinhua