Russia is ready to cease operations in Aleppo at any moment to allow medics access to the Syrian city and ensure the evacuation of injured civilians, the General Staff said, adding that it has scheduled a humanitarian pause for Thursday.
“We are prepared to cease fire and ensure the unhampered access of medical personnel to the city and ensure the evacuation of the injured and sick as soon as we get a request from humanitarian organizations,” Sergey Rudskoy, chief of the main operations directorate of Russia’s General Staff, told the media.
According to Rudskoy, Moscow is ready “to discuss any initiatives and proposals for a settlement in Aleppo.”
Russia and Syria will start carrying out a ‘humanitarian pause’ in Aleppo on Thursday, October 20, to allow passage to civilians and the withdrawal of militants from the city, he said.
The Russian and Syrian forces will refrain from military activity in Aleppo starting from 8 am till 4 pm local time on Thursday, the official added.
“We understand that the coordination of all issues can take a long time. Therefore, we decided not to delay a decision and initiate a ‘humanitarian pause,’ primarily for the free passage of civilians, the evacuation of the sick and wounded, as well as the withdrawal of fighters,” Rudskoy explained.
He addressed “the leaders of illegal armed groups and [their] sponsors,” saying that they will be able to leave eastern Aleppo unhampered during the pause.
Two corridors – one running along the Castello Road and the other in the souq-market area in the south of the city – will be created for the withdrawal of the militants, the official said.
Source: RT
