Uncertainties throw UN operations in eastern Aleppo in limbo

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said Friday that the UN had not yet received the necessary safety guarantees allowing humanitarian operations to be carried out in east Aleppo after a Russia-backed unilateral ceasefire started on Thursday.

"The necessary conditions are not in place. We need adherence to security assurances and we need necessary facilitation," OCHA spokesman Jens Laerke said.

"This is an astronomically difficult operation. We need security assurances from all sides, plus facilitation from all parties. That is currently not at a level where we can proceed," he added.

The UN plans to gain access to rebel-held east Aleppo for 11 hours per day for four consecutive days to evacuate the injured and sick while providing aid items to the 275,000 civilians living there.

According to OCHA, the first two days will be used to evacuate the most urgent medical cases so that they can be transported to places where they can receive adequate treatment.

The final two days are be used for further evacuations while allowing relief items including food and medicine to enter the eastern districts of the city which has been divided in two since 2012.

Once Syria's economic hub, Aleppo has been the scene of fierce fighting pitching government forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against opposition forces seeking to oust him. Endit