New York Times: Airdrops Called Too Risky a Way to Help Starving Syrians
“Civilians in besieged Syrian cities are still starving. Though two humanitarian convoys reached Madaya on Thursday, for example, they were the first to do so in months, and the United Nations says five more people there have died from starvation in the past week. That raises the question: If supplies cannot get through on the ground, couldn’t the American-led coalition simply airdrop food into the besieged towns? The answer, according to American officials, is that it is a lot harder than it sounds…” (Goldman, 1/19).

NPR: Beyond Madaya, 1 in 3 Syrians Doesn’t Have Adequate Access To Food
“…Supply disruptions are driving up prices in many places. For example, rice was reportedly selling for $93 per pound in Madaya before aid arrived. By comparison, the latest World Food Programme report said rice was selling for 31 cents per pound in Syria’s capital, Damascus…” (Kennedy, 1/19).

U.N. News Centre: Overnight aid deliveries reach four Syrian towns while situation in east ‘extremely grave’ — U.N.
“…U.N. human rights expert Hilal Elver [Tuesday] warned that some 400,000 people living in 15 besieged locations throughout Syria are trapped in desperate circumstances and in urgent need of emergency assistance. ‘An immediate and unconditional humanitarian pause in hostilities must be put in place to allow humanitarian aid and food to reach everyone in Syria,’ Ms. Elver said…” (1/19).