Jordan to permit regular aid drops by crane to Syrians

FILE - In this Wednesday, June 22, 2016 file photo, Syrians walk through the Ruqban refugee camp in Jordan's northeast border with Syria. An official says Jordan will permit regular aid drops by crane to Syrian refugees stranded on its sealed border. The comments by government spokesman Mohammed Momani signaled an apparent shift in Jordan’s position in talks with international aid agencies over access to the displaced. (AP Photo/Abu Adel, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE - In this Saturday, June 25, 2016 file photo, Syrian refugees ride a donkey cart full of water bottles at the Ruqban border camp in northeast Jordan. An official says Jordan will permit regular aid drops by crane to Syrian refugees stranded on its sealed border. The comments by government spokesman Mohammed Momani signaled an apparent shift in Jordan’s position in talks with international aid agencies over access to the displaced. (AP Photo, File) (The Associated Press)

AMMAN, Jordan – An official says Jordan will permit regular aid drops by crane to Syrians stranded on its sealed border.

The comments by government spokesman Mohammed Momani signaled an easing of Jordan's position in talks with international aid agencies over access to the displaced.

Jordan sealed its border with Syria in June, after a cross-border attack. This left more than 75,000 Syrians without regular access to food, water and medicine.

Before the border closure, aid was sent from Jordanian soil. In August, Jordan permitted a one-off aid drop by crane.

Momani told The Associated Press on Monday that "the new mechanism will be delivering aid ... through cranes."

An aid official says a final deal hasn't been reached. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters.