UN chief welcomes Syria cessation of hostilities plan

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed a plan to cease hostilities in war-wracked Syria that would allow humanitarian aid to reach tens of thousands clinging to life.
"I welcome the decisions made by the International Syria Support Group to facilitate humanitarian access to besieged and hard-to-reach areas in Syria and on a nationwide cessation of hostilities, which was agreed upon yesterday in Germany," Ban told a news conference, during a visit to Canada.
"Tens of thousands of people there are in desperate need of life saving aid and the entire country urgently needs peace."
The 17 countries involved in the Munich talks agreed the so-called "cessation of hostilities" would begin in about a week's time, while humanitarian aid was expected to start flowing to the region immediately, if possible.

Amid doubts over the prospect of widespread adherence to the deal, ISSG representatives met in Geneva today to discuss plans for mass aid distribution that would coincide with the pause in fighting.
A statement from the office of UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said guaranteed access from the warring sides to Syria's besieged areas was the key first step.

The United Nations has said that only around a dozen of 116 access requests to reach Syrians in need had been granted in the past.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon said coalition air strikes against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq would continue.

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad vowed to retake the entire country in an exclusive interview with AFP.