Fears Mount For Civilians As Battle For Aleppo Looms
Umer Jamshaid Published August 10, 2016 | 11:38 AM
BEIRUT, Aug 9, (APP/AFP) - The United Nations has called for urgent aid access to Syria's Aleppo as regime forces and rebel fighters prepare for an all-out battle for control of the devastated city. Fears are growing for trapped civilians ahead of what is expected to be a major battle for Aleppo, Syria's second city and a focal point of the country's five-year civil war. Rebel factions and President Bashar al-Assad's regime have sent hundreds of reinforcements to Aleppo in anticipation of the fighting, after opposition forces broke a government siege at the weekend and vowed to capture the entire city. Hundreds of thousands of civilians remain inside the city, once Syria's main economic hub, and UN officials have sounded the alarm over trapped residents.
The UN's top humanitarian official in Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, and regional coordinator Kevin Kennedy said in a statement late on Monday that medical and food stocks "are running dangerously low" in Aleppo. They appealed for a full-fledged ceasefire or weekly 48-hour "humanitarian pauses" to reach those in need. UNICEF said children and families in Aleppo were facing "a catastrophic situation", with up to two million people without running water for four days after fighting damaged electricity networks needed to pump supplies. "These cuts are coming amid a heatwave, putting children at a grave risk of waterborne diseases," Hanaa Singer, UNICEF's representative in Syria, said in a statement.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
US 'seriously concerned' as S.Korea declares martial law
Seeking a new way of life under the sea - and a world record
Olympic champion Evenepoel breaks hand and shoulder in postal van collision
Biden announces $1 bn for Africa during maiden trip
Europe-loving Blinken on last trip to NATO before Trump handover
France's Macron slams calls to resign as 'political fiction'
Defying headwinds, German stocks hit milestone
Two killed, two injured in Bahawalnagar firing
Pakistan, France agree to enhance cooperation in agri, IT, clean drinking water ..
Governor for preventing brain drainage to improve quality education
"Colours of Communication" starts at Superior University
NADRA participates in TRUSTECH 2024 exhibition Paris
More Stories From World
-
Ukraine pushes NATO for invite as Trump looms
17 minutes ago -
UK museum in talks with Greece over 'long-term' deal for Parthenon Marbles
26 minutes ago -
S. Korea's President Yoon, embattled conservative
26 minutes ago -
Football: Spanish La Liga result
27 minutes ago -
Namibia's ruling party candidate wins disputed election: final results
27 minutes ago -
Olympic champion Evenepoel breaks hand, shoulder in postal van collision
27 minutes ago
-
S. Korea President Yoon says martial law will be lifted
27 minutes ago -
Georgia uses water cannon, tear gas at pro-EU rally after government threats
27 minutes ago -
Namibia elects its first woman president
27 minutes ago -
Football: Italian Cup results
1 hour ago -
UN slams continuing attacks on civilians, healthcare facilities in embattled Syria
1 hour ago -
Put young women at the heart of peace & security efforts: Senior UN official
1 hour ago