(VOVworld) - The United Nations and partner aid organizations plan to deliver life-saving aid to 154,000 Syrians in besieged areas over the next five days, the UN Resident Coordinator in Damascus Yacoub El Hillo said in a statement on Sunday.

A Syrian boy covers his face as he rides a bicycle through a devastated part of the old city of Homs (Photo: AP)

The UN estimates there are almost 500,000 people living under siege, out of a total of 4.6 million who are hard to reach with aid, but it hopes that the cessation of hostilities that began on Friday night will bring an end to the 15 sieges. But the UN said it hoped that the ceasefire which took effect on February 27 would help put an end to the besiegement of the people. But Mr. El Hillo said that without a meaningful political process and a political solution, both the cessation of hostilities and entry of humanitarian assistance would not be enough to end the crisis in Syria.