"Reprehensible actions taken by the Assad regime have led us to a situation where basic supplies, humanitarian supplies are very scarce," said White House press secretary Jay Carney, referring to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"We support calls for ceasefires to allow for the provision of humanitarian supplies to Syrians who desperately need it."
The International Committee of the Red Cross has called for at least a daily two-hour halt in the fighting to allow it to deliver vital aid to civilians trapped by the unrest, and bring out the sick and wounded.
On Monday, it said it was in talks with Syrian authorities and rebels on a ceasefire in Homs, amid calls for women and children to be allowed safe passage out of the flashpoint city.
The Syrian army has pummeled residential areas of the city of Homs for days in a campaign to crush opponents of Assad`s leadership.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 31 civilians were killed on Tuesday, including 16 in shelling on Homs.
Since February 11, Red Crescent and ICRC teams have managed to enter the cities of Homs, Bludan, Al Zabadani and Madaya to provide humanitarian relief.
Rights groups say more than 6,000 people have been killed in the regime`s crackdown which began in March last year.
AFP was not able to verify the reported death toll nor the reports of shelling as foreign reporters are given only limited access within the country. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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