This rapid literature review examines the lessons learned in terms of providing humanitarian access and protection for civilians in besieged areas. The focus is on the following besieged areas: Syria (e.g. Raqqa, Aleppo, Deir-Ez-Zor and Eastern Ghouta), Hudaydah in Yemen and Mosul in Iraq. The recent literature is dominated by the conflict in Syria while there is very little in-depth analysis of humanitarian access in Hudaydah or Mosul. This review utilised grey literature produced by research organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and humanitarian organisations as well as academic literature on humanitarian access. The findings reported in the literature were based on case study analyses which encompassed in-depth interviews with humanitarian actors and victims of conflict.