Russia Says Opening Humanitarian Corridors Around Aleppo

MOSCOW, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th july,2016) - Russia said on Thursday it had launched a "large-scale humanitarian operation" together with the Syrian government around the battered city of Aleppo to open humanitarian corridors for civilians and fleeing fighters. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told Russian news agencies that three humanitarian corridors were being opened "to aid civilians held hostage by terrorists and for fighters wishing to lay down their arms" and one more corridor to the north of the city for rebels to flee with their weapons.

Opposition neighbourhoods of Aleppo have been effectively besieged by regime forces backed up by Russian air power since July 7, when government troops advanced to within firing range of the sole remaining supply route into the east. "We repeatedly urged the opposing sides to move towards peace but every time the rebels broke the truce by firing at civilian areas and attacking government troops.

As a result a difficult humanitarian situation developed in the city of Aleppo and around," Shoigu said.