The crisis in Aleppo has forced 200,000 citizens to flee Syria’s densely populated city after intense fighting between the opposition forces and Al-Assad’s forces. This is a mass exodus from the city whose population is just over 2 million.
The United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Baroness Valerie Amos reported that other Syrians are trapped in Aleppo and in need of help.
“I call on all parties to the fighting to ensure that they do not target civilians and that they allow humanitarian organisations safe access,” she said.
The fighting is mainly taking place in the Salah Al-Din area where most opposition fighters are stationed. Both parties claim control over the area. Journalists are not able to verify either’s claims due to the rising violence barring them from access to several dangerous areas.
Chairman of the SNC Abdul Basit Sida urged the United Nations on Saturday to authorise military action capable of stopping the bloodshed in Syria, according to Gulf News.
“We have arranged with Arabs and Friends of Syria to refer the issue to the General Assembly of the UN as the road is blocked at the Security Council,” Sida told Gulf News. “There should be a world decision to apply the 7th chapter of the Charter of the UN.”
So far, Security Council resolutions hinting at imposing sanctions on Al-Assad have been repeatedly vetoed by Russia and China. France, presiding over the Security Council for the month of August, has called for a ministerial level Security Council convention.
In a BBC interview, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius described Assad as an “executioner.” United States Defense Secretary Leon Panetta echoed similar sentiments, saying that the battle of Aleppo shall be “a nail in Assad’s own coffin,” should the regime continue its “tragic attacks.”
Syrian refugees fleeing the deadly violence continue to expand from the 200,000 who have left Aleppo so far. Refugees escaping to Jordan are being attacked by Syrian forces during their crossing and Syrian refugees in Iraq are also facing hardships, especially in the border town of Al-Qaim.
