A quarter of a million people are besieged in the east of Syria’s city Aleppo, as the battle intensifies between government and rebel forces.
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Rudskoy added that Russian Federation, together with the Syrian authorities, was ready to help all interested organizations deliver humanitarian aid to Aleppo’s residents safely.
A witness in Aleppo near the frontline between the opposition-held eastern sector and the government-held west of the city also reported hearing continued fighting after 10.30 a.m.
The Syria Civil Defense rescue service in the Zubdiya neighborhood of rebel-held Aleppo said it had recorded three deaths and 22 injuries after a barrel containing gas fell on the city. “We could deliver these within 24 to 48 hours if we have safe access”.
He added that Russian Federation, an ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against rebels in Syria’s five-year-old civil war, would work with Damascus to ensure safe delivery of the aid.
Emboldened by their win, the rebel alliance on Sunday announced an ambitious bid to capture all of Aleppo city, which if successful would mark the biggest opposition victory yet in Syria’s conflict.
GENEVA: The United Nations called on Tuesday for an urgent ceasefire in the divided Syrian city of Aleppo, where it said two million people lack access to clean water, putting people, especially children, at risk of disease.
United Nations aid chief Stephen O’Brien renewed his call for a 48-hour humanitarian truce in Aleppo and said following the meeting that he was “encouraged” that the council appeared to be uniting behind that proposal. “The big battle has not started yet”, Abdulrahim said.
The sudden advance by fighters from western Syria into a military complex in southwest Aleppo on Saturday opened a corridor into the city, breaking the weeks-long siege and providing a launch pad for fresh attacks into government-held territory.
U.S. General Sean MacFarland, the top commander for the coalition fighting Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, told reporters Wednesday that the humanitarian disaster in Aleppo is “a model of how I don’t want to fight in Mosul [Iraq]”. “When we’re offered three hours then you have to ask what could be achieved in that three hours – is it to meet the need, or would it only just meet a very small part of the need?”
Rudskoi told a briefing in Moscow that humanitarian convoys will be formed near Handarat and will move on the strategic Castello road.
“Clearly, from our point of view, we’re simply there to meet the need, all the need.”, O’Brien said.
“If the siege of Aleppo continues. greater humanitarian disasters will happen, as there will be no medicine for the injured and no flour for people to bake with”, Nawhlu said as a constant barrage of gunfire could be heard in the background.
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“The most alarming situation has developed on the southwestern outskirts of Aleppo, where terrorists have formed a group of about 7,000 fighters armed with tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery and weapon-mounted vehicles during the last week”, Rudskoy said.
