Situation in war-torn Aleppo compromising humanitarian taskforce: UN official

Heavy aerial bombardments hitting east Aleppo and indiscriminate shelling in western parts of the city are threatening the lives of civilians while further hampering the delivery of critical aid, the United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Syria told reporters Thursday.

"The bombing must stop, civilians must be protected, and the cessation of hostilities must be restored," said UN official Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy, after a weekly humanitarian task force meeting here.

A cessation of hostilities set up by the United States and Russia on Sept. 12 appears to be in tatters, though Ramzy said neither Washington nor Moscow had declared the truce over.

This was initially hoped to enable aid convoys to reach civilians living in besieged and hard-to-reach areas, and give new momentum to negotiations seeking to end the conflict which started in 2011.

Referring to the crisis affecting Syria's northern city, the scene of heavy fighting between forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition factions seeking to oust him, Ramzy warned the humanitarian situation in Aleppo was becoming increasingly untenable.

No more than 35 doctors are catering to the growing needs of some 275,000 civilians trapped in eastern parts of the war-torn city, he said.

Food, water, and medical supplies are also running low.

"It is clear that humanitarian aid, especially medical items and medical evacuations are urgently needed," the official said.

UN-mediated Syrian talks seeking to broker a political end to the five-year civil war have been on hold since April this year. Endit