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UNHCR first visit to the ancient parts of the war torn city of Aleppo

UNHCR staff enter the ancient city of Aleppo, a World Heritage Site since 1986.

 
Submitted by webmaster on 22 December 2016

For the first time since the battle for Aleppo erupted in 2012, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has been able to enter the old city of Aleppo. The scale of the destruction to infrastructure and historic buildings was evident.

 

Entering the ancient city of Aleppo, a World Heritage Site since 1986, UNHCR staff reported total destruction in infrastructures and historic buildings as a result of fighting to control the city since 2012. Photo: © UNHCR/S. Aljoundi Syria. UNHCR first visit to the ancient parts of the war torn city of Aleppo A UNHCR staff stands in front of the Citadel of Aleppo, a large medieval fortified palace in the centre of the old city of Aleppo, which considered to be one of the oldest and largest castles in the world. The Citadel has received significant damage during the battle for Aleppo since 2012. Photo: © UNHCR/S. Aljoundi Syria. UNHCR first visit to the ancient parts of the war torn city of Aleppo Entering the ancient city of Aleppo, a World Heritage Site since 1986, UNHCR staff reported total destruction in infrastructures and historic buildings as a result of fighting to control the city since 2012. Photo: © UNHCR/S. Aljoundi
Entering the ancient city of Aleppo, a World Heritage Site since 1986, UNHCR staff reported total destruction in infrastructures and historic buildings as a result of fighting to control the city since 2012. Photo: © UNHCR/S. Aljoundi Syria. UNHCR first visit to the ancient parts of the war torn city of Aleppo A UNHCR staff stands in front of the Citadel of Aleppo, a large medieval fortified palace in the centre of the old city of Aleppo, which considered to be one of the oldest and largest castles in the world. The Citadel has received significant damage during the battle for Aleppo since 2012. Photo: © UNHCR/S. Aljoundi Syria. UNHCR first visit to the ancient parts of the war torn city of Aleppo Entering the ancient city of Aleppo, a World Heritage Site since 1986, UNHCR staff reported total destruction in infrastructures and historic buildings as a result of fighting to control the city since 2012. Photo: © UNHCR/S. Aljoundi

Centuries of civilization now stand in ruins after four years of intense fighting over Aleppo, once Syria’s largest city and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.Much of the city’s population is now displaced. Throughout its long history, Aleppo has survived several deadly man-made and natural disasters. However, four years of devastating fighting have left many homes and buildings ruined, and caused extensive damage to monuments listed as World Heritage sites. The ferocious battle for control of the eastern part of Aleppo, which has been under opposition control for much of the past four years, has forced an estimated 40,000 civilians to seek safety in the government-controlled west since 28 November.

 

Civilians in besieged east Aleppo were cut off, living without deliveries of humanitarian supplies – food, clothing, medicine – for months.

 

UNHCR first visit to the ancient parts of the war torn city of Aleppo A UNHCR staff stands in the middle of one of the squares of the ancient city of Aleppo, where the scale of the destruction to infrastructure and historic buildings was evident. Centuries of civilization now stand in ruins after four years of intense fighting over Aleppo, once Syria’s largest city and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. On 18 December, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has been able to enter the old city of Aleppo for the first time since the battle for the city erupted in 2012. Photo: © UNHCR/S. Aljoundi
UNHCR first visit to the ancient parts of the war torn city of Aleppo A UNHCR staff stands in the middle of one of the squares of the ancient city of Aleppo, where the scale of the destruction to infrastructure and historic buildings was evident. Centuries of civilization now stand in ruins after four years of intense fighting over Aleppo, once Syria’s largest city and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. On 18 December, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, has been able to enter the old city of Aleppo for the first time since the battle for the city erupted in 2012. Photo: © UNHCR/S. Aljoundi

A ceasefire deal reached in December allowed for the evacuation of residents of besieged east Aleppo, alongside reciprocal evacuations from Foah and Kefraya, areas besieged by opposition forces in neighbouring Idleb governorate.