Thousands stream out of Aleppo as rebel deal is struck
- 7 years ago
The latest
In bitter weather, thousands of people flee the fighting in Aleppo.
Behind them, Syrian government forces are advancing on the final pockets of rebel resistance.
What Churkin said
The Syrian government military offensive in Aleppo is over, according to Russia’s envoy to the UN.
Ambassador Vitaly Churkin says an agreement has been struck for rebels to evacuate the north-western city.
He insisted civilians would not be harmed, despite western and UN allegations of them being intentionally killed.
“Over the last hour, we have received information that the military activities in eastern Aleppo have stopped, it has stopped,” Churkin told a heated UN Security Council meeting, called by France and the UK.
“The Syrian government has established control over eastern Aleppo.”
Churkin told reporters that Russian military personnel have not seen “any abuses of international humanitarian law.”
Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin says reports out of Aleppo of mass slaughter are ‘fake news.” Security Council gridlock in a nutshell.— Nick Bryant (@NickBryantNY) December 13, 2016
What the UN said
The UN says it has reports claiming Syrian soldiers, along with allied Iraqi fighters, have summarily shot dead 82 civilians in recaptured districts of Aleppo.
Ban Ki-moon on Aleppo: “Immediate task is to do all we can to stop carnage [...] Laws of war & universal human rights must be respected.” pic.twitter.com/KreHR20TId— United Nations (@UN) December 13, 2016
In his briefing to the council, UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon called on the Syrian government, Russia and Iran to urgently allow civilians to escape the city.
There was an abundance of early warning given to this council regarding the situation in Aleppo,” Ban said. “We have collectively failed the people of Syria..history will not easily absolve us.”
“They have gone from siege to slaughter,” British UN ambassador Matthew Rycroft told the 15-member council.
UN Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura told reporters after the meeting that the UN wants its representatives to be allowed to be there when civilians are evacuated from the city and opposition fighters withdraw.
De Mistura estimated:
50,000 civilians remain rebel-held areas
1,500 opposition fighters remain
30% of whom are Nusra Front
The UN’s human rights office in Geneva says it has reports of abuses, including claims the army and allied Iraqi militias summarily executed at least 82 civilians in captured city districts.
What the US said
The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, said the Syrian government, Russia and Iran would be responsible for atrocities committed in Aleppo.
“By rejecting UN/ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) evacuation efforts, you are signalling to those militia who are massacring innocents to keep doing what they are doing,” Power told the meeting in New York.
“Aleppo will join the ranks of those events in world history that define modern evil, that stain our
In bitter weather, thousands of people flee the fighting in Aleppo.
Behind them, Syrian government forces are advancing on the final pockets of rebel resistance.
What Churkin said
The Syrian government military offensive in Aleppo is over, according to Russia’s envoy to the UN.
Ambassador Vitaly Churkin says an agreement has been struck for rebels to evacuate the north-western city.
He insisted civilians would not be harmed, despite western and UN allegations of them being intentionally killed.
“Over the last hour, we have received information that the military activities in eastern Aleppo have stopped, it has stopped,” Churkin told a heated UN Security Council meeting, called by France and the UK.
“The Syrian government has established control over eastern Aleppo.”
Churkin told reporters that Russian military personnel have not seen “any abuses of international humanitarian law.”
Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin says reports out of Aleppo of mass slaughter are ‘fake news.” Security Council gridlock in a nutshell.— Nick Bryant (@NickBryantNY) December 13, 2016
What the UN said
The UN says it has reports claiming Syrian soldiers, along with allied Iraqi fighters, have summarily shot dead 82 civilians in recaptured districts of Aleppo.
Ban Ki-moon on Aleppo: “Immediate task is to do all we can to stop carnage [...] Laws of war & universal human rights must be respected.” pic.twitter.com/KreHR20TId— United Nations (@UN) December 13, 2016
In his briefing to the council, UN Secretary Ban Ki-moon called on the Syrian government, Russia and Iran to urgently allow civilians to escape the city.
There was an abundance of early warning given to this council regarding the situation in Aleppo,” Ban said. “We have collectively failed the people of Syria..history will not easily absolve us.”
“They have gone from siege to slaughter,” British UN ambassador Matthew Rycroft told the 15-member council.
UN Syria mediator Staffan de Mistura told reporters after the meeting that the UN wants its representatives to be allowed to be there when civilians are evacuated from the city and opposition fighters withdraw.
De Mistura estimated:
50,000 civilians remain rebel-held areas
1,500 opposition fighters remain
30% of whom are Nusra Front
The UN’s human rights office in Geneva says it has reports of abuses, including claims the army and allied Iraqi militias summarily executed at least 82 civilians in captured city districts.
What the US said
The US ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, said the Syrian government, Russia and Iran would be responsible for atrocities committed in Aleppo.
“By rejecting UN/ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) evacuation efforts, you are signalling to those militia who are massacring innocents to keep doing what they are doing,” Power told the meeting in New York.
“Aleppo will join the ranks of those events in world history that define modern evil, that stain our