-Gen. Igor Konashenkov says that Russian Federation would back the initiative on condition that the aid convoys should travel to both rebel-controlled and government-controlled parts of the city.
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“A more precise date and time will be determined after receiving information about the readiness of the convoys from the United Nations representatives and receiving confirmation of the security guarantees of their safe travel from our American partners”, Konashenkov said.
He said he insists on having a 48-hour ceasefire, starting with Aleppo that is split into opposition and government controlled areas and has become the focus of fighting in Syria’s five-year-long civil war.
De Mistura stressed that during the month of August no convoy had reached the affected areas in Aleppo, mainly in the east, where the Syrian army has surrounded the armed extremist groups operating there and where about 250,000 civilians are between two fires.
“Our plan is to collectively work out the operational details, and be ready for delivery as soon as possible”.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups. He also said it was to display “respect” towards the World Humanitarian Day tomorrow and signal “deep unhappiness” about the lack of a pause that is preventing humanitarian aid from reaching anywhere in Syria, except Deir ez-Zor, where the World Food Programme (WFP) has conducted airdrops 100 times.
The Russian military says its warplanes have flown from Iran for a third straight day to strike targets in Syria.
He welcomed the Russian defence ministry announcement and said the United Nations humanitarian team “is now set to mobilize itself to respond to this challenge”. He says another route to the western part of Aleppo would run from Handarat and further along the Castello road.
The Russian military says two of its ships have launched cruise missiles at targets in Syria from the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Activists say it was filmed in the rebel-held al-Qaterji neighbourhood of the divided Syrian city.
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. Photographs of the boy were widely shared on social media.
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Departing from his usual diplomatic talking points, Kirby asked the reporters how many among them had seen photos of the child.
