The Syrian government has refused a UN request for humanitarian aid access to rebel-held eastern Aleppo, the UN says, warning that the area could soon be besieged.
“The horrific fighting and bombardment in recent days, especially in and around Aleppo, is creating new areas with endless suffering and no access for humanitarians,” says Jan Egeland, who heads an international humanitarian taskforce for the war-ravaged country.
Syrian security forces evacuate medical staff after rockets reportedly fired by rebels hit Al-Dabbeet hospital the in government-controlled neighbourhood of Muhafaza in the northern city of Aleppo on May 3, 2016. (AFP/George Ourfalian)
Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the taskforce created in February by the 17-nation International Syria Support Group, he says the situation in Aleppo needed to change immediately.
“If not, eastern Aleppo may even become a besieged area,” he warns.
Syria’s second city has over nearly two weeks been hit by a wave of violence, including numerous attacks on hospitals and other medical facilities, that has killed more than 270 people.
— AFP
Your next read: ToI Editors' Picks
LIMITED TIME OFFER: Join The Times of Israel Community today, and you'll receive a physical book of your choice, carefully curated by our editors.
Choose between two must-reads: When We See You Again by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, a searing portrait of a mother’s grief and strength following unthinkable tragedy;
Or Out of the Sky: Heroism and Rebirth in Nazi Europe by Matti Friedman, the gripping and surprising tale of a forgotten moment during World War II.
As a Community member, you’ll enjoy our outstanding DocuNation series of Israeli documentary films, an ad-free experience of our site and podcasts, commenting privileges, and more.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
