The International Committee of the Red Cross says aid workers in Syria have reached two Homs neighborhoods near Baba Amr, a rebellious district overrun by government forces last week after a near-month long assault.

ICRC spokesman Hicham Hassan told VOA that a Red Cross and Syrian Arab Red Crescent convoy arrived on Monday in the Homs neighborhoods of al-Tawzii and al-Inshaat, which is adjacent to Baba Amr. He said the 4-truck convoy was carrying food, blankets and mattresses for thousands of civilians, including people who fled the government bombardment of Baba Amr.

Aid workers have been trying to enter Baba Amr itself since Friday after receiving Syrian government approval to do so, but troops have blocked access to the district, citing security problems. Hassan says the ICRC is negotiating with Syrian authorities at the local and national level to remove obstacles to entering Baba Amr.

U.S.-based rights group Human Rights Watch estimates the government assault on Baba Amr killed about 700 people. Rights groups say the humanitarian situation is dire, with residents struggling to find food, water and medical supplies in freezing temperatures.

U.N.-Arab League special envoy for Syria Kofi Annan is expected to travel to the country on Saturday on his first visit since being appointed to the post last month.

Annan has said he will plead with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to engage in dialogue with the opposition for a peaceful resolution of the country's unrest. The Syrian president has been waging a deadly crackdown on a year-long uprising against his 11-year autocratic rule.

Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby confirmed Annan's visit to Syria in remarks to reporters in Cairo. Elaraby said Palestinian diplomat Nasser al-Kidwa will accompany Annan in the role of deputy international envoy for Syria.

In other diplomatic moves, China says it is sending its own envoy to Syria this week to work on a political solution to the unrest. The Chinese foreign ministry says former Chinese ambassador to Syria Li Huaxin will promote Beijing's proposal for the Syrian government and the opposition to accept an immediate cease-fire and begin a dialogue.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says he will meet his Arab League counterparts in Cairo on Saturday to discuss the Syrian crisis.

Syria's main opposition groups have rejected dialogue with Mr. Assad and said his departure is the only way to end the revolt.

The United Nations estimates that violence linked to the uprising has killed at least 7,500 people since it began last March. Syria blames the unrest on “armed terrorist groups” backed by foreign conspirators.