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| UN calls for ceasefires to ease civilians' despair in Aleppo | UN calls for ceasefires to ease civilians' despair in Aleppo |
| (30 days later) | |
| The United Nations in New York has backed calls for regular 48-hour ceasefires around the Syrian city of Aleppo but plans for a specific UN resolution appeared to have foundered because of Russian objections. | The United Nations in New York has backed calls for regular 48-hour ceasefires around the Syrian city of Aleppo but plans for a specific UN resolution appeared to have foundered because of Russian objections. |
| The call for action to save Aleppo came as a further 20 Syrian civilians were killed in air raids on the city and key hospitals were targeted. | The call for action to save Aleppo came as a further 20 Syrian civilians were killed in air raids on the city and key hospitals were targeted. |
| The ceasefire proposal was discussed behind closed doors after the UN humanitarian coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, called for the 48-hour truce in Aleppo. | The ceasefire proposal was discussed behind closed doors after the UN humanitarian coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, called for the 48-hour truce in Aleppo. |
| O’Brien warned that food would soon run out and described the siege as medieval. He briefed the UN: “I cannot stress enough how critical the situation is for those trapped in eastern Aleppo city. This population is at serious risk of besiegement as the fighting closes in and their access to basic necessities runs out.” | O’Brien warned that food would soon run out and described the siege as medieval. He briefed the UN: “I cannot stress enough how critical the situation is for those trapped in eastern Aleppo city. This population is at serious risk of besiegement as the fighting closes in and their access to basic necessities runs out.” |
| He added: “The available protected space is shrinking; humanitarian conditions are worsening, and the level of despair is rising.” | He added: “The available protected space is shrinking; humanitarian conditions are worsening, and the level of despair is rising.” |
| Britain, France and the United States quickly endorsed the ceasefire plan, and Japan’s ambassador to the UN, Koro Bessho, who holds the security council presidency, said there was “overwhelming support for the idea” among the 15 council members. | Britain, France and the United States quickly endorsed the ceasefire plan, and Japan’s ambassador to the UN, Koro Bessho, who holds the security council presidency, said there was “overwhelming support for the idea” among the 15 council members. |
| French ambassador François Delattre compared Aleppo’s plight to that of Sarajevo during the Bosnian war and said: “The security council simply cannot accept such war crimes – yes, war crimes – to repeat again.” | French ambassador François Delattre compared Aleppo’s plight to that of Sarajevo during the Bosnian war and said: “The security council simply cannot accept such war crimes – yes, war crimes – to repeat again.” |
| Syrian regime forces seized the last remaining supply route to Aleppo this month and all humanitarian and commercial movements came to a halt on 7 July. | Syrian regime forces seized the last remaining supply route to Aleppo this month and all humanitarian and commercial movements came to a halt on 7 July. |
| Syria and its allies are “determined to besiege, starve and bomb Aleppo until they reach their military goal: eradicating the opposition. This is what the siege is all about,” Delattre told reporters before the meeting. | Syria and its allies are “determined to besiege, starve and bomb Aleppo until they reach their military goal: eradicating the opposition. This is what the siege is all about,” Delattre told reporters before the meeting. |
| Over the weekend, four hospitals were bombed in Aleppo, jeopardising medical care for more than 200,000 desperate civilians. | Over the weekend, four hospitals were bombed in Aleppo, jeopardising medical care for more than 200,000 desperate civilians. |
| “Enough is enough now,” Matthew Rycroft, the UK ambassador to the UN, said. He said he received an email on Monday morning from a doctor at Aleppo children’s hospital saying “if nothing is done we are surely facing death”. | “Enough is enough now,” Matthew Rycroft, the UK ambassador to the UN, said. He said he received an email on Monday morning from a doctor at Aleppo children’s hospital saying “if nothing is done we are surely facing death”. |
| “Eastern Aleppo city is now encircled by the regime,” said Rycroft. “The Castello road, a vital route for food, medicine and supplies, is cut off … Yet another humanitarian catastrophe awaits.” | “Eastern Aleppo city is now encircled by the regime,” said Rycroft. “The Castello road, a vital route for food, medicine and supplies, is cut off … Yet another humanitarian catastrophe awaits.” |
| Russia said the so-called Castello road that was seized by regime forces was a supply route for weapons to jihadists, including the Al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front. | Russia said the so-called Castello road that was seized by regime forces was a supply route for weapons to jihadists, including the Al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front. |
| Al-Nusra is under pressure to distance itself from al-Qaeda or else see itself subjected to airstrikes by Russia and the US. | Al-Nusra is under pressure to distance itself from al-Qaeda or else see itself subjected to airstrikes by Russia and the US. |
| Until now, al-Nusra has not been included in the list of terrorist organisations exempted from the cessation of hostilities. The Americans hope the move might lead to the resumption of the abandoned peace talks in August, and even to a grounding of the Syrian air force. | Until now, al-Nusra has not been included in the list of terrorist organisations exempted from the cessation of hostilities. The Americans hope the move might lead to the resumption of the abandoned peace talks in August, and even to a grounding of the Syrian air force. |
| The UN’s Syrian peace envoy, Staffan de Mistura, is due to discuss the plan in talks with Russian and the US in Geneva on Tuesday. | The UN’s Syrian peace envoy, Staffan de Mistura, is due to discuss the plan in talks with Russian and the US in Geneva on Tuesday. |