Hilary Benn MP, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, commenting on the situation in Madaya and the other besieged towns in Syria, said:

“It is vital that humanitarian aid is urgently delivered to the long-suffering people of Madaya and the other besieged towns. The residents there are among hundreds of thousands who are short of food in Syria. What they need more than anything else is an end to hostilities and a ceasefire as quickly as possible.

"The difficulties of establishing aid corridors to Madaya and elsewhere through territory controlled by several different armed combatant groups is a reminder that this terrible conflict needs to be brought to an end through negotiation and diplomacy. I urge the government to strain every sinew to ensure significant progress is made when the peace talks resume on 25 January.”