Ancient Aleppo could be destroyed 'in weeks'
The United Nations’ special envoy to Syria has warned that part of Aleppo could be totally destroyed in just ten weeks.
Staffan de Mistura said that “cruel, constant” military activity in the east of the city meant that thousands of citizens were likely to be killed.
The besieged population of 275,000 – including 100,000 children – is in desperate need of aid supplies.
Speaking at a news conference in Geneva, Mr de Mistura said: “The bottom line is in a maximum of two months, two and a half months, the city of eastern Aleppo at this rate may be totally destroyed.
Hospital in Syrian city of Aleppo hit by airstrikes
“We are talking about the old city in particular.”
Mr de Mistura said no-one could deny that the situation was an “emergency”, warning that historical parallels were drawing alarmingly close.
He said: “There is only one thing we are not ready to do: be passive, resign ourselves to another Srebrenica, another Rwanda, which we are sadly ready to recognise written on that wall in front of us, unless something takes place.”
Earlier this week, medics said the largest hospital in rebel-held parts of Aleppo had been “completely destroyed”.
Mr de Mistura said he was willing to go to the city and escort around 900 Islamist fighters away from the area, if it meant an end to the bombardment by Syrian and Russian forces.
Staffan de Mistura has offered to personally escort the militants out
The Russian news agency Tass said Russia’s presidential envoy for the Middle East and Africa, Mikhail Bogdanov, agreed with the idea.
“It’s high time,” Mr Bogdanov was quoted as saying.
The militants are from the Fatah al Sham Front – formerly known as the Nusra Front – which has been linked to al Qaeda.
The United Nations considers the Nusra Front to be a terrorist group.
Syrian girl tweets from inside Aleppo
Mr de Mistura said the Islamists would need some “guarantees” that safe passage to Idlib province was a possibility.
Addressing them directly, he said: “Can you please look at my eyes.
“If you decide to leave with dignity… I am personally ready to physically accompany you.”
Referring to Syria’s and Russia’s “aerial bombing”, he warned both countries not to use the Islamists’ presence as an “easy alibi” to destroy the area.
He said that history would judge such action harshly.
Addressing the Syrians and Russians, the UN diplomat said: “Are you really ready to continue this type of level of fighting using that type of weapons, and de facto destroy the whole city of eastern Aleppo?”
Ancient Aleppo could be destroyed "in weeks"
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