UN relief chief concerned about intensifying violence in Syria's Aleppo

UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Stephen O'Brien, on Wednesday said that he was "horrified" by further death and destruction, and that "life for people in Aleppo is horrendous and lost all sense."

O'Brien, who is also the UN emergency relief coordinator, said in his briefing to an open meeting of the UN Security Council that "over the past 10 days, indiscriminate attacks and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by government forces and its allies, by non-State armed opposition groups, and by listed terrorist groups have intensified."

"While the dead are still being counted, while medical personnel are trying to save lives and tend to the injured, we can already estimate that hundreds of civilians have been killed or injured, including dozens of women and children," he said.

Aleppo, a major city in northern Syria, has recently witnessed intensified violence. The council meeting was requested by the United Kingdom.

Access to basic and essential services, such as water and electricity, are sporadic, at best, said O'Brien. "People are living under daily threat and terror."

Those who remain in eastern Aleppo, roughly 300,000 people, live in constant fear over the next attack from the air, including from barrel bombs. "School activities for thousands of children is suspended and Friday prayers are cancelled," said O'Brien.

The estimated 1.3 million people living in western Aleppo city are crowding into basements, seeking refuge from volleys of shells and mortar rounds, while continue to slam into what's left of their homes, he said.

"These terrible attacks not only claim innocent lives, but also have a multiplier effect, leaving tens of thousands of civilians unable to obtain even the most basic levels of care, even as fighting intensifies around them," he said.

O'Brien expressed his concern about the worsening security situation in Aleppo city and its adverse impact on humanitarian access and operations.

"The bottom line is that attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure needs to stop immediately," he said. "There also needs to be full, unhindered, unconditional, safe and sustained access to all people in need, including in besieged and hard-to-reach areas, for all types of assistance, including medical and surgical supplies."

He urged all parties concerned to live up to their obligations under international humanitarian law and the demands of the UN Security Council's resolutions.

The Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution to strengthen protection for health care workers, the sick and wounded, hospitals and clinics, in war zones.

Source: XINHUA