A Syrian man carries his wounded son as they flee their home in the town of Beit Sawa in Syria's besieged Eastern Ghouta region on March 4, 2018. (AFP photo)
DAMASCUS, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations said in a statement Sunday that it's planning to deliver humanitarian assistance to the rebel-held Douma district in the capital Damascus' Eastern Ghouta countryside.
In a statement, the UN said the aid convoy will consist of 46 truckloads of health and nutrition supplies, along with food for 27,500 people in need and will be led by Ali Al-Za'tari, the UN Resident Humanitarian Coordinator.
"We hope that the convoy may proceed as planned and will be followed by other convoys. Our teams on the ground are ready to do all that is needed to make this happen," stated al-Za'tari, according to the statement.
The UN said it had received approval to deliver assistance for 70,000 people in need in Douma, adding that assurances were made that the remaining supplies for all approved people in need will be delivered on March 8.
The only UN delivery of assistance to Eastern Ghouta in 2018 was on Feb. 14, when a convoy with assistance for 7,200 people reached Nashabiyeh, said the statement.
Meanwhile, Syria' Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said the Syrian government is ready to send aid to Eastern Ghouta, noting that the rebels have targeted the crossing point into Eastern Ghouta.
This comes as the Syrian forces have made notable progress in the fight against the rebels in Eastern Ghouta.
The Syrian army said in a statement Sunday that the fighting is ongoing in Eastern Ghouta out of the time of the partial daily humanitarian pause, which has so far failed to allow people to evacuate, with the government blaming the rebels of targeting those who want to flee Eastern Ghouta.