UN Syria envoy warns east Aleppo faces 'total ruin' in two months
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 6 October 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, UN Syria envoy warns east Aleppo faces 'total ruin' in two months, 6 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5975a09013.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
October 06, 2016
The UN says 275,000 civilians are trapped the in the rebel-held part of Aleppo.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says he is "ready to work on" a UN Security Council resolution about Syria that has been drafted by France.
Lavrov made the remarks on October 6 after talks in Moscow with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault.
Ayrault plans to meet with U.S. officials in Washington on October 7 to discuss the French proposal – which seeks to reestablish a cease-fire agreement between Washington and Moscow that collapsed on September 19.
Lavrov also said Russia was carefully studying a proposal by the United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura.
Earlier on October 6, De Mistura urged Moscow and Damascus not to destroy Aleppo for the sake of eliminating militants.
He warned that rebel-held neighborhoods of Aleppo may face "total destruction" in two months, with thousands of civilians killed, if an offensive by Russian-backed Syrian government forces continues.
De Mistura also offered to personally escort some 900 militants out of Aleppo if it would halt air strikes on the city.
He also offered to personally escort some 900 militants of the Fatah al-Sham Front – formerly known as the Al-Nusra Front – out of the city if it would halt the bombardments.
The UN envoy said history will judge Syria and Russia if they used the presence of the militant fighters as an "easy alibi" to destroy the east of Aleppo, where the UN says 275,000 civilians are trapped.
Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
