The UN on Tuesday warned that two million civilians were at risk due to the fighting in Aleppo.
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The statement also denounced the military targeting of hospitals and clinics, which it said “continues unabated, seriously jeopardizing the health and welfare of all citizens of Aleppo”.
The U.N. says more than 2 million residents are essentially trapped in Aleppo – the largest city in Syria, and formerly the country’s biggest financial and commercial hub. Their advance severed the primary government supply corridor running into the city from the south and raised the prospect that government-held western Aleppo might in turn become besieged by the insurgents.
“We can deliver these within 24-48 hours if we have safe access”, he emphasized, reiterating his call for a fully-fledged ceasefire or weekly 48-hour humanitarian pauses – as a minimum – to reach millions of people in need, “safely, unimpeded and without further delay”.
Asked about his feelings when he looks around Aleppo and sees so much death and destruction and so many buildings lying in ruin as a result of the fighting, Bishop Audo said he feels “very sad” when he compares life in the city now to what it was like before the war began.
On Wednesday the markets in opposition-held districts of Aleppo were the fullest they have been in weeks as food stalls and shops had been empty of customers after a government siege of the eastern districts led to rising prices and shortages.
He said children were especially vulnerable from the water crisis and that wells drilled in the city were “not almost enough to sustain the population”.
“Getting clean water running again can not wait for the fighting to stop”.
“These cuts are coming amid a heatwave, putting children at a grave risk of waterborne diseases”, said Hanaa Singer, its representative in Syria.
And now the U.N.is raising the alarm over access to potable water.
“The security situation has been too grave, too hard even for the very, very fearless United Nations and humanitarian partners – people on the ground who are determined to deliver. They are fearless but they are not suicidal; we have to have security conditions in place”, O’Brien added.
At a meeting of the UN Security Council, the United States and France urged for aid to reach Aleppo before a new diplomatic push to end the conflict can go ahead – though Russian Federation said there should be no pre-conditions for the talks in Geneva.
There was no immediate statement of confirmation from the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
They have since come under intense air bombardment from pro-government forces.
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U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said the Syria peace talks urgently need to get back on track but “the environment for talks also has to be right”. He didn’t say whether the rebels have agreed to respect the halts in hostilities, or explain how they would be enforced.
