UN asks Security Council to approve cross-border relief operations

United Nations: The UN’s chief humanitarian official is asking the Security Council to approve cross-border relief operations into Syria to deliver aid to civilians.

Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos says the UN agency is currently hampered by Syria’s requirement that two Syrian government ministers must sign approval papers for every truck allowed into the country.

She says children are starving to death in Syria for want of food aid.

The Security Council has been deadlocked for months on the Syrian war, and is not expected to act or make any statement after Thursday’s briefing.