UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is alarmed by reports of atrocities against “a large number” of civilians, including women and children, in recent hours in the Syrian city of Aleppo, his spokesman said Monday.
“While stressing that the United Nations is not able to independently verify these reports, the secretary-general is conveying his grave concern to the relevant parties,” said spokesman Stephane Dujarric.
Ban has asked his envoy Staffan de Mistura to follow up.
“The United Nations underlines the obligation of all parties on the ground to protect civilians and abide by international humanitarian and human rights law,” Dujarric said.
“This is particularly the responsibility of the Syrian government and its allies,” notably Russia and Iran, he added.
The Syrian army said its military operations to crush the remaining pockets of resistance from armed groups in Aleppo were entering the final phase after months of heavy fighting.
About 10,000 Syrians have fled terrorist areas in the past 24 hours, mostly to government-held territory,.
Last week, the United Nations reported that hundreds of men had gone missing after fleeing the battered city.
The fall of Aleppo would be the worst defeat of armed groups since global war on Syria erupted in 2011.
More than 300,000 people have been killed since the conflict began in March 2011, and over half the population has been displaced, with millions becoming refugees.
Moscow launched an air war in support of Syrian army last year, while Washington has supported armed groups and terrorists battling the national military.
Source: AFP
