UN secretary general says "flagrant violations of the basic principles of international law" have been committed. For UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos, relief often cannot reach its destination because soldiers deny access. And roads linking Aleppo to Damascus are often blocked.

New York City (AsiaNews/Agencies) - In his report to the Security Council, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon said that more than three million civilians were being denied vital aid, including medicine and medical care, actions that constitute "flagrant violations of the basic principles of international law".

The UN chief was especially concerned that "Thousands of people are not getting the medical care, including life-saving medicines that they need".

On Wednesday, the heads of five UN agencies appealed to the parties involved in the Syrian conflict to allow the movement of humanitarian aid in the country.

The United Nations secretary general urged the Security Council to implement the resolution adopted last February meant to improve the delivery of basic supplies to Syria.

The resolution called on all parties to allow aid shipment to cross the country's borders until they reached their destination.

However, UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos on Wednesday said that hopes for a political deal to end Syria's war were fading and that it was getting harder by day to send aid to trapped and displaced civilians.

In the city of Aleppo for example, at least a million people are in need of urgent assistance, but the roads that connect the northern part of the city to Damascus have often blocked by fighting, and are therefore unusable.

• syria
• civil
• war
• aid
• shipment