The Russian Defense Ministry’s spokesperson, Maj.
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Moscow must ensure its allied Syrian government forces adhere to the pause, while the United States and regional powers must ensure opposition fighters are also on board, he said.
United Nations deputy spokesman Farhan Haq says a 48-hour humanitarian pause in the Syrian city of Aleppo would be “a welcome first step” if all combatants agree.
US President Barack Obama’s administration, which has been pushing for a more widespread cease-fire, said it would not “turn up our nose” at the 48-hour offer.
The image of the 5-year old stunned boy, sitting in an ambulance caked with dust and with blood on his face, captured the horror that has beset the war-torn city. Russia’s previous proposal was three hour halts in fighting, with the United Nations saying this time period was insufficient.
Chief Executive with Trocaire Eamon Meehan has said it’s important we take time out today to remember them: “More than 90% of humanitarian workers actually come from those countries where those disasters are happening”.
“Tomorrow is World Humanitarian Day, and in Syria what we are hearing and seeing is only fighting, offensives, counter-offensives, rockets, barrel bombs, mortars, hellfire cannons, napalm, chlorine, snippers, airstrikes, suicide bombers”, de Mistura said.
The Syrian opposition has said it wants to see a credible pause in the bloodshed and improved aid access before talks can resume.
“The Russian defence ministry has laid out several conditions for a weekly 48-hour pause in fighting”, said Al Jazeera’s Reza Sayah, reporting from the Gaziantep on the Turkish-Syrian border.
The United Nations envoy for Syria abruptly suspended the regular global humanitarian taskforce meeting in Geneva today shortly after it started, saying it made “no sense” to continue unless there is a pause in the fighting so aid convoys could reach besieged areas of the war-ravaged country. Aleppo, however, is particularly affected as two million civilians, including 10,000 children, remain trapped as fighting rages. Since then, Russian Federation and Syria have stepped up air bombardments of insurgent-held areas in the battered city.
De Mistura welcomed the Russian defence ministry announcement and said a United Nations humanitarian team was “now set to mobilise itself to respond to this challenge”.
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“Trucks with food, water and medicine are ready to move immediately and ambulances to evacuate urgent medical cases are on standby”, said Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
