The UN has called for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire in Aleppo where it says millions of civilians are trapped without water or electricity. Fighting has rocked the divided city as loyalist forces try to rout rebels.
Image: Reuters/A. Ismail
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More than two million people in Aleppo are in danger of coming under total siege, the United Nations has warned, calling for immediate access to the heavily bombed city.
"The UN is extremely concerned that the consequences will be dire for millions of civilians if the electricity and water networks are not immediately repaired," a joint statement from Yacoub El Hillo, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria and Kevin Kennedy, UN regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis, said Tuesday.
The fighting in Aleppo is reported to have killed at least 130 civilians since the end of last month, and has damaged hospitals, clinics, and the city's critical infrastructure including water, sanitation and electricity.
"The UN stands ready to assist the civilian population of Aleppo, a city now united in its suffering," the statement read. "At a minimum, the UN requires a full-fledged ceasefire or weekly 48-hour humanitarian pauses to reach the millions of people in need throughout Aleppo and replenish the food and medicine stocks, which are running dangerously low."
Aleppo in state of siege
Aleppo has been in a state of siege since government forces closed in on the Castello Road, the last route into rebel-held areas of the city. The road was severed nearly a month ago, sparking food shortages and skyrocketing prices in the eastern districts.
The different sides have been able to bring food and other supplies into districts of the city they control, but the roads are still not safe for civilians to use.
"When used to intentionally deprive people of food and other items essential to their survival, siege tactics constitute a war crime," the UN statement said.
More than 290,000 people have been killed since Syria's conflict erupted in March 2011. Millions have been displaced leading to a refugee crisis in the region and spilling into Europe.
As Syria war drags, MSF warns of Aleppo crisis
As the war in Syria drags on, the humanitarian situation in Aleppo has grown steadily worse. The international aid organization Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has warned of a major crisis.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/B. el Halebi
A city on the brink
About 250,000 people are trapped in the rebel-held eastern part of Aleppo as food and vital supplies dwindle, MSF reported on Thursday. Hospitals are straining to treat the number of patients, and the only road leading to areas not controlled by the government has been cut off.
Image: picture-alliance/abaca/M. Sultan
Civilian casualties continue to mount
Even as besieged Syrians struggle amid food and supply shortages, attacks launched on civilians by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad continue. Hospitals have been repeatedly bombed, and government-led airstrikes have led to dozens of deaths over the past several months.
Image: Getty Images/B.Al-Halabi
Food and supplies are running low
MSF has been providing trapped civilians with food and supplies since 2014. The NGO's last shipment to Aleppo took place in April, when trucks were permitted to deliver 330 cubic meters (11,650 cubic feet) of equipment and provisions.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/O.-H. Kadour
Russian proposal rejected
Earlier this week, the Syrian and Russian governments proposed to open humanitarian corridors leading from the besieged parts of Aleppo to government-controlled areas seen in the background here. Their plan came shortly after forces overtook key rebel supply routes leading into the rebel areas.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/K. Al-Masri
Fears of a regime takeover
The regime-sanctioned plan was largely dismissed by the international community, with UN envoy Staffan de Mistura saying he wasn't even informed about it. Trapped activists and civilians, meanwhile, say it's an attempt to restore government control to the rest of Aleppo.
Image: Getty Images/T.Mohammed
Renewed calls for ceasefire
De Mistura called on Russia to hand administration of the humanitarian corridors over to the United Nations, as German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged Moscow to establish a ceasefire.
Image: picture-alliance/AA
A clear message
"We once again demand the warring parties respect the rules of war," Pablo Marco, MSF's Middle East operations manager, said in the report. "The message is clear: stop bombing hospitals and civilian infrastructures, allow the severely sick and wounded to be evacuated, and do not cut the supply of food, drugs and vital goods into the city."
