Updated

France's U.N. ambassador says Syria's authorization of some aid convoys to besieged Syrian towns is "at best a drop in the ocean" and the United Nations must urgently prepare to make airdrops to areas most in need of humanitarian help.

Francois Delatte said "we have not been fooled by the Syrian regime's ploy to authorize certain convoys which turn out to be empty of food or medicine or both."

He spoke to reporters Friday ahead of closed-door briefings to the U.N. Security Council Friday on Syria — and following the Syrian government's announcement late Thursday that it approved the delivery of aid to 36 "restive areas" and partial deliveries to eight other areas in June.

Britain's U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said "it's too little, too late, but it's welcome."