A convoy bringing aid to a besieged area in Syria was seized by gunmen who looted the supplies and roughed up the drivers just days before the Thursday (February 23rd) peace talks began in Geneva, the UN aid chief said Wednesday.

UN aid chief Stephen O'Brien told the Security Council that two convoys were scheduled to reach opposition-held Waer near Homs, but one was forced to turn back due to sniper fire en route on Sunday, AFP reported.

The following day, shelling and gunfire prevented trucks from reaching the town, he said, but on the way back to a warehouse, gunmen diverted the convoy to a regime-controlled area.

"The drivers and trucks were temporarily detained, and some drivers were reportedly roughed up, but have since been released, without humanitarian supplies, and everyone is safe and accounted for," O'Brien said.

The UN last week had urged the Syrian regime to allow the aid to reach Waer as a "goodwill gesture" ahead of peace talks opening Thursday in Geneva.

O'Brien condemned the incident as a "blatant disregard for the protection of humanitarian workers" and said efforts would continue to try to reach Waer, where 50,000 civilians have not received any assistance in nearly four months.

In the besieged towns of Madaya and Kafraya, five people have died in recent days, among them a mother who died giving birth, O'Brien said.