A/HRC/33/55 Lebanon so that he could escape ISIL recruitment and work to support the family. Similarly, many children who fled to Turkey work to help their families. In the Syrian Arab Republic, children take any work — from selling vegetables to smuggling fuel — to support their families. VI. Conclusions and recommendations A. Conclusions 128. The cessation of hostilities agreement, which came into effect on 27 February 2016, offered a glimmer of hope to those seeking a path towards a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Its dual focus on guarantees for humanitarian access and ceasefires in several parts of the country seemingly presaged a potential political track to discuss peace. Led by the United States and the Russian Federation, the International Syria Support Group and its related task forces have provided much-needed momentum to identify sources of intransigence. 129. In the weeks following the agreement, there was a de-escalation of armed violence across much of the country, providing millions of civilians with some respite from the brutal war. Since late March, however, there has been a marked upsurge in the fighting, with indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilian-inhabited areas, particularly through pounding aerial bombardments. 130. On this front, the efforts of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, deserve stronger support to generate greater traction towards peace. 131. There has been some measure of improvement in humanitarian access, with limited supplies having reached all 18 besieged areas. Where land routes remain blocked, relief supplies have been dropped by air to help besieged populations. Since the beginning of 2016, the United Nations and its partners have delivered multisectoral assistance to over 1 million civilians in besieged and hard-to-reach areas. 132. Yet, sieges continue in breach of international humanitarian law, with nearly 600,000 people trapped. Humanitarian access, including to provide life-saving essentials such as surgical kits and medicine, is currently being blocked by some of the belligerents. Supplies are running out for hundreds of thousands. Aleppo is a key flashpoint. 133. The cessation of hostilities agreement brought a welcome respite for civilians that lasted all too briefly. Since April, breaches have occurred with greater regularity and intensity. Moreover, the agreement did not cover areas held by ISIL, where stronger action is needed. Fighting Jabhat al-Nusra has been highly complicated, especially where it occupies civilian-inhabited areas. 134. Medical workers and facilities have come under sustained and targeted attack. As a consequence, there has been a severe weakening of health-care infrastructure, particularly in areas of the country not under government control, with devastating consequences for civilians. 135. The plight of internally displaced persons and refugees is now of gargantuan proportions, with transborder and transcontinental implications. This underlines the need for more robust cooperation on assistance and protection of persons on the move, with due regard to equitable international responsibility-sharing and exemplary leadership. 19