steven o'brien. >> thank you, mr.sident, the conflict in yemen continues to kill and maim civilians, casing immeasurable suffering, while destroying livelihoods, homes, communities and essential civilian infrastructure. much of this is the result of indiscriminate bombing and shelling by the parties. since march 2015, more than 35,000 casualties, including over 6,000 deaths have been reported by health facilities across the country. the united nations has confirmed that at least 2,997 of those killed and 5,659 of those injured are civilians. conservative estimates suggest that well over 700 children have been killed and over 1,000 more injured. there are reports that as many as 720 children have been forcibly recruited by the parties. the conflict is exacting a terrible humanitarian toll. some 2.7 million people have had to flee their homes. at least 7.6 million people are severally food insecure. some 2 million acutely malnourished children and pregnant or lactating women need urgent treatment. chronic drug shortages

but also at the same meeting, we have stringing criticism of the syrian government from steven o'brienthe humanitarian chief of the united nations, who said that they put in place lots of bureaucratic complexities. he described them as staggering, which are making it very, hard to get the aid to the besieged areas by the government. and they said the humanitarian situation in syria is not as bad as it is in yemen. and he said the aid wasn't getting there because of what he described as terrorists, and then he added have you ever seen a starving terrorist. so only interesting language on this humanitarian picture. there is, in the wings, i think, potentially another part of what is going on here at the united nations, we're getting word that perhaps there is going to be a u.n. security council resolution to endorse this idea of a cessation of hostilities. we are hearing that from the russians who are one of the cosponsors of the munich process that produced this idea of a cessation on saturday morning. and when i asked the american ambassador about the idea, she told me simply watch thi

steven o'brien says more than 21 million yemenis are in need of some fort of aid. nearly 8 million are facing food shortages. taiz is facing famine >> some 2.7 million people have had to fled their homes. 7.6 are food insecure. some two million acutely mall your shall issued-- malnourished-- malnurished children. around 14 million yemenis do not have sufficient access to health care services. since march last year nearly 600 health facilities closed due to damage, shortages of critical supplies or alack of health workers >>> plenty more still ahead on al jazeera, including the former u.n. secretary general boutros boutros ghali dies aged 193. we take a - 93. we take a look at his time in office. >>> welcome back. a recap of the headlines here on al jazeera. china apples to have deployed missiles on a disputed island in the south china sea. the syrian government says it will allow aid through to seven besieged areas including madaya. the u.n. humanitarian afares chief has urged the security council to take action in yemen. it is estimated more than 21 million yemeni

s humanitarian chief, steven o'brien. >> earlier this morning a wfp plane dropped the first cargo oftons of items into daraa zor. we have received initial reports that targets have landed as planned. >> and the humanitarian chief is also strongly critical of the syrian government. >> reporter: yes, he came out with stringing criticism of the syrian government saying they have been putting delays and bureaucracy in the way of delivering aid. he said the bureaucracy they put in place was quite staggering, and unacceptable we then heard from the syrian ambassador to the united nations who deflected that criticism, saying that the humanitarian situation in syria was not as bad as yemen. and said the aid not getting through was the fault of terrorists. adding then have you ever seen a starving terrorist? >> james bayes thank you. >>> staying with syria, russia says it has started ceasefire negotiations with rebel groups. the russian and syrian presidents had a phone conversation to talk about the deal which is aimed attending the country's civil war. the kremlin said assad confirmed his g

the announcement of the air drop was made to the security council by steven o'brien. >> earlier thisning, a wfp plane dropped the first cargo of 21 tons of items into deir al-zour. we have received initial reports that pellets have landed in the target area as planned. >> reporter: he also as well as welcoming that air drop, was critical, though, of the syrian government. and the syrian ambassador was sitting there, and he said that syrian government put all sorts of bureaucratic obstacles in the way of aid deliveries to some besieged communities. he said the number, scope, and complexity of obstacles was in his words staggering. >> and there are reports that russia has been meeting with the opposition. what more can you tell us about that. >> reporter: well, i think you will find there is everyone meeting everyone at this stage. russia and iron are speaking to the syrian government, russia is also speaking to any opposition, but the opposition will also being coming under pressure from the u.s. and regional countries, because i think there is a lot of effort to make the sus accusati

s humanitarian coordinator steven o'brien has condemned what happened. >> any bombs, whether from theround shelling, on any medical facilities and on medical personnel, that is contemporary to international humanitarian law. and, of course, it must be highlighted. it must be absolutely condemned. and it must be investigated and people who have been responsible for it must be identified and held to account. and that is absolutely fundamental and that's been the consistent message we have had when some of these other insta instances about medical facilities being hit have taken place, they are wrong and they are contrary to law. >>> voters in the u.s. state of new hampshire in the northeast are deciding -- in fact some have already decided who they want to be the republican and democratic nominees to run for president. democrat supporters will choose between bernie sanders and hillary clinton. sanders the senator from vermont has been enjoying a bit of renewed momentum in recent days telling supporters he's predicting a very, very good night. a lot of people will also be looking at the