Call for Urgent Humanitarian Access in Aleppo, Syria

This statement is attributable to Yacoub El Hillo, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, and Kevin Kennedy, Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis

Damascus/Amman, 8 August 2016-- The United Nations urgently calls for a humanitarian pause in the fighting in Aleppo to enable immediate access to repair the electricity and water networks, and provide humanitarian assistance to people in need. An estimated 250,000-275,000 people remain trapped in east Aleppo since early July following the closure of Castello road, the last remaining access route into this area. Since 6 August, Khanasser road, the main access route into west Aleppo has also been cut, bringing the total number of civilians living in de facto fear of besiegement to over two million.

Over the past few weeks, communities in both east and west Aleppo have borne the brunt of the vicious conflict, with countless civilians dead or injured. The targeting of hospitals and clinics continues unabated, seriously jeopardizing the health and welfare of all citizens of Aleppo. Moreover, attacks on civilian infrastructure this week severely damaged the city's electric and water infrastructure, leaving over two million residents of Aleppo without electricity or access to the public water network. Water available through wells and tanks in Aleppo is not nearly enough to sustain the needs of the population. The UN is extremely concerned that the consequences will be dire for millions of civilians if the electricity and water networks are not immediately repaired.

The UN stands ready to assist the civilian population of Aleppo, a city now united in its suffering. At a minimum, the UN requires a full-fledged ceasefire or weekly 48-hour humanitarian pauses to reach the millions of people in need throughout Aleppo and replenish the food and medicine stocks, which are running dangerously low. Civilians, including the sick and wounded, must be reached through the most effective way both through cross-line and cross-border operations from Turkey. They must be assisted without discrimination and wherever they are located. All parties must guarantee the security, safety and dignity of all civilians and civilian infrastructure in accordance with international humanitarian and human rights law.

The UN reiterates its call for the immediate lifting of all sieges. When used to intentionally deprive people of food and other items essential to their survival, siege tactics constitute a war crime.

For further information please contact:
Kristele Younes, Damascus, younes4@un.org Tel: +963958880060
David Swanson, Amman, swanson@un.org Tel: +962791417882
You may also find our press releases on www.unocha.org or www.reliefweb.int