The opposition, however, condemned the initiative as an attempt to “alter Aleppo’s demographics and ensure forced displacement”, while Amnesty said it was “not a substitute for allowing impartial humanitarian relief for civilians… many of whom will be sceptical about government promises”.
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Khandakani said the offensive and siege is depriving him of his “brief feelings of independence and freedom” living in the part of the city under rebel control since 2012.
New York, July 30:As the humanitarian crisis reaches distressing levels in Syria, particularly in and around battle-torn Aleppo, the United Nations envoy for the country welcomed on Fridayinitiatives aimed at assisting the civilian population trapped amid the fighting and, “under the right circumstances”, the implementation of humanitarian corridors.
“That’s our job”, Staffan de Mistura said on Friday.
“How do you expect people to walk through a corridor – thousands of them – while there is shelling, bombing, fighting?”
Due to the lack of aid, global agencies have warned that the residents risk starvation.
O’Brien reiterated the United Nations demand for “safe, regular and sustained access” to 250,000 people trapped behind front lines and stressed that “all options must be considered”.
Robert Mardini, ICRC director for the Near and Middle East, said what was needed was “a humanitarian pause” in all areas of Aleppo affected by violence. He said he had no indication that all involved groups had agreed to the plan.
On Thursday, a Moscow said its forces and those of the Syrian government would open such passages outside the city and offer a way-out for fighters wanting to surrender.
Earlier this week, the Syrian army sent text messages to residents and terrorists in eastern Aleppo, saying it will grant safe passage to people wishing to leave the area.
There have been several presidential amnesty offers in recent years.
Manbij is controlled by the so-called Islamic State group but encircled by Kurdish-led forces who are advancing with the support of coalition air strikes.
The head of Aleppo City Council, Haji Hassan, told MEE that reports a humanitarian corridor had been set up were “lies”.
The proposal raised concerns that the corridors could be used to flush out Aleppo before a final push by the Syrian regime forces to take the city. One struck the entrance, killing two men who were waiting for their wives who were delivering, said AbdulKarim Ekzayez, health co-ordinator at Save the Children International. A lot of equipment, including incubators for newborns, was damaged. The TV also aired a call from Aleppo clerics, urging armed groups to drop their weapons. The group, which relies on a network of activists in Syria, says the hospital was no longer operational.
“There has been a lot of pressure on the militants in Manbij”, said Bali.
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Only the hospital’s A&E department was left functioning and its generator was badly damaged, dangerously reducing the capacity of the only maternity facility of its kind in the area, which serves more than 1,000 women and children every month.
