Egypt coordinates between UN, Syrian govt to secure delivery of aid to Aleppo, evacuate injured, elderly

The Syrian government agreed to let Egypt, through its mission in Damascus, mediate between the UN agencies operating in Damascus and the Syrian authorities to alleviate the sufferings of Aleppo residents, deliver humanitarian aid to hard-hit areas and evacuate injured and elderly people, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid.

Arrangements are being taken to send Egyptian charge d'affaires in Damascus Mohamed Tharwat Selim to Aleppo to supervise the evacuation of wounded and elderly people, the spokesman said.

He added that Egypt also seeks a mediation role to help let in humanitarian aid to Aleppo, a northern city that was once a thriving trade hub, has now become a central battleground in the five-year Syrian war and is facing a humanitarian disaster.

Abu Zeid said Egypt's mediation comes as part of its integrated vision towards the way of settling the five-year-long Syrian crisis which is based on alleviating humanitarian sufferings of Syrians, ceasing fire across the country, resuming political negotiations and preserving the integrity of Syrian territories.

Syria has been engulfed in a deadly civil war since 2011 that left thousands dead, injured and displaced, according to the UN estimates.

Source: MENA