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Syria conflict: UN fears Aleppo assault could cut off 300,000 civilians | Syria conflict: UN fears Aleppo assault could cut off 300,000 civilians |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Up to 300,000 people could be cut off from food supplies if Syrian government forces encircle rebel-held parts of the northern city of Aleppo, the UN says. | Up to 300,000 people could be cut off from food supplies if Syrian government forces encircle rebel-held parts of the northern city of Aleppo, the UN says. |
A road from Turkey used by the World Food Programme to reach eastern Aleppo was blocked last week after the government launched a major offensive. | A road from Turkey used by the World Food Programme to reach eastern Aleppo was blocked last week after the government launched a major offensive. |
The agency currently has an alternative route, but it may soon be severed too. | The agency currently has an alternative route, but it may soon be severed too. |
The UN is also calling on Turkey to let in some 30,000 people stranded on its border who have fled the fighting. | The UN is also calling on Turkey to let in some 30,000 people stranded on its border who have fled the fighting. |
Aid workers say facilities at the border have been overwhelmed, with people forced to sleep outside in the bitter winter weather. | Aid workers say facilities at the border have been overwhelmed, with people forced to sleep outside in the bitter winter weather. |
Separately, Medecins Sans Frontieres said air strikes had hit a hospital supported by the aid agency near the southern city of Deraa, killing three people and injuring six others, including a nurse. | Separately, Medecins Sans Frontieres said air strikes had hit a hospital supported by the aid agency near the southern city of Deraa, killing three people and injuring six others, including a nurse. |
The strike on the Tafas field hospital, some 12km (7 miles) from the Jordanian border, took place on the night of 5 February. It caused partial damage to the hospital building, and put its ambulance service out of action. | The strike on the Tafas field hospital, some 12km (7 miles) from the Jordanian border, took place on the night of 5 February. It caused partial damage to the hospital building, and put its ambulance service out of action. |
Aleppo, once Syria's commercial and industrial hub, has been roughly divided since 2012, with the government controlling the western half and rebel factions holding the east. | Aleppo, once Syria's commercial and industrial hub, has been roughly divided since 2012, with the government controlling the western half and rebel factions holding the east. |
Eight days ago, the Syrian army and allied militias, backed by Russian air strikes, began an offensive north-west of Aleppo that swiftly broke a long-running siege of two pro-government towns and severed a key rebel supply route into the city. | Eight days ago, the Syrian army and allied militias, backed by Russian air strikes, began an offensive north-west of Aleppo that swiftly broke a long-running siege of two pro-government towns and severed a key rebel supply route into the city. |
They then advanced towards the Turkish border, and by Monday were reportedly only 25km (16 miles) away - the closest they have been since late 2013. | They then advanced towards the Turkish border, and by Monday were reportedly only 25km (16 miles) away - the closest they have been since late 2013. |
The Syrian war and Aleppo | The Syrian war and Aleppo |
March 2011: Anti-government protests erupt across Syria, but Aleppo is initially untouched as a result of a state crackdown | March 2011: Anti-government protests erupt across Syria, but Aleppo is initially untouched as a result of a state crackdown |
February 2012: As the rebellion turns into a conflict, clashes between rebels and the government are reported with increasing frequency in Aleppo province | February 2012: As the rebellion turns into a conflict, clashes between rebels and the government are reported with increasing frequency in Aleppo province |
July 2012: The battle for Aleppo begins. Rebels make swift advances, but are unable to consolidate their gains and the city becomes divided | July 2012: The battle for Aleppo begins. Rebels make swift advances, but are unable to consolidate their gains and the city becomes divided |
2013: The government begins bombarding rebel districts with barrel bombs, causing thousands of casualties | 2013: The government begins bombarding rebel districts with barrel bombs, causing thousands of casualties |
September 2015: Syria launches a fresh offensive in the wake of Russia's intervention in the conflict | September 2015: Syria launches a fresh offensive in the wake of Russia's intervention in the conflict |
February 2016: The government captures towns north of Aleppo, threatening to encircle the city | February 2016: The government captures towns north of Aleppo, threatening to encircle the city |
Military and political significance of Aleppo | Military and political significance of Aleppo |
In pictures: Stranded refugees | In pictures: Stranded refugees |
Meanwhile US Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday warned that Russia's aerial bombardment of Syrian opposition targets could destroy efforts to bring Syria's civil war to a conclusion. | |
"Russia's activities in Aleppo and in the region right now are making it much more difficult to be able to come to the table and... have a serious conversation," Mr Kerry said. | |
"We call on Russia again to join in the effort to bring about an immediate ceasefire and to bring about full humanitarian access." | |
Mr Kerry is due to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Munich on Thursday at a gathering of the 17-nation contact group which is being convened with the aim of getting peace talks on track. | |
Syria for its part has insisted that it will continue with its objective of securing the border with Turkey and recapturing Aleppo, a top adviser to President Bashar al-Assad told the Reuters news agency on Tuesday. | |
Bouthaina Shaaban said that her government had little optimism that diplomatic efforts would succeed in ending the five-year civil war. | |
She said that support for a ceasefire came from countries that did "not want an end to terrorism" and instead wanted to help insurgents who are losing territory. | |
Rebels and opposition activists said they feared the government would soon attempt to sever their last route into eastern Aleppo from Turkey, which runs from the western Bab al-Hawa crossing. | Rebels and opposition activists said they feared the government would soon attempt to sever their last route into eastern Aleppo from Turkey, which runs from the western Bab al-Hawa crossing. |
The government has employed so-called "starve or surrender" tactics elsewhere in the country to regain rebel-held territory, most notably in the central city of Homs. | The government has employed so-called "starve or surrender" tactics elsewhere in the country to regain rebel-held territory, most notably in the central city of Homs. |
The UN Office for the Co-ordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) that such a move might leave up to 300,000 people cut off from humanitarian aid, unless access could be negotiated. | The UN Office for the Co-ordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) that such a move might leave up to 300,000 people cut off from humanitarian aid, unless access could be negotiated. |
A spokeswoman for the World Food Programme reporters in Geneva that it was "extremely concerned about the situation on the ground". | A spokeswoman for the World Food Programme reporters in Geneva that it was "extremely concerned about the situation on the ground". |
The UN refugee agency has meanwhile called on Turkey to immediately allow them in. | |
Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said it had so far let in 10,000 of those waiting at Bab al-Salam, and would continue to do so in a "controlled fashion". | Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said it had so far let in 10,000 of those waiting at Bab al-Salam, and would continue to do so in a "controlled fashion". |
Turkey has accepted 2.5 million refugees since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad almost five years ago. | Turkey has accepted 2.5 million refugees since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad almost five years ago. |