UNITED NATIONS, July 10 (APP): The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has expressed serious concern for the estimated 300,000 people trapped in eastern Syrian city of Aleppo, due to heavy clashes along the Castello road, the only road in and out of that part of the city.
“Heavy fighting over the past few days has continued to put
civilians at risk of death and injury while effectively cutting off humanitarian’s access to people in need of assistance,” a UN spokesperson told reporters today in New York.
This follows intensified fighting by all parties to the conflict in Aleppo City and surrounding areas in recent weeks, including reports of airstrikes, shelling, and heavy clashes, causing many civilian deaths and injuries. It has also caused damage to schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure, and hindered humanitarian aid operations.
The spokesperson reiterated the UN’s call on all parties to the conflict to take measures to protect civilians, as required under international humanitarian law, in order to safeguard the lives of all civilians living in Aleppo city and added: “We also call on all parties to the conflict to take all measures to facilitate humanitarian access, particularly to eastern Aleppo city, as required under international humanitarian law.”
