Russia announces humanitarian operation in Syria’s Aleppo

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Thursday the Russian and Syrian militaries would start a large-scale humanitarian operation in Aleppo during which civilians and militants would be given the chance to leave the besieged zone.

The Russian announcement came as Syria’s President Bashar Assad offered a general amnesty for rebels who give up their weapons and surrender to authorities over the next three months.

“Everyone carrying arms… and sought by justice…is excluded from full punishment if they hand themselves in and lay down their weapons”, it said. Shoigu said on Thursday, July 28, 2016 that Russian Federation and the Syrian government will open humanitarian corridors and offer a way-out for Islamic State fighters wanting to lay down their arms.

The Syrian regime has frequently used seige tactics to starve rebels and civilians into submission, drawing worldwide criticism and calls for humanitarian access.

Residents have reported food shortages and spiralling prices in rebel districts since regime forces cut off the opposition’s main supply route into the northern city earlier this month.

The Syrian government, which says it is winning control of more neighborhoods in the city, has called on all residents bearing weapons to surrender their arms.

“The pro-Assad coalition’s assault on Aleppo will force unity between the rebellion and the jihadists: in life-and-death situations people will take protection from wherever they can get it”, said Kyle Orton, a Middle East analyst at the Henry Jackson Society think-tank.

The New York-based watchdog said it had documented 47 cluster munition attacks that killed and injured dozens of civilians in rebel-held areas in three provinces since May 27, many north and west of Aleppo.

The amnesty would also apply to those who safely released people they had kidnapped during Syria’s five-year civil war. But humanitarian groups have stated that a major catastrophe could take place if the siege on the rebel-held areas of Aleppo continues.

He said the move was “first and foremost to ensure the safety of Aleppo residents”.

There are fears the plan could herald a Russian-backed government assault on the city, effectively wiping out diplomatic efforts by the U.S. to negotiate military cooperation with Russia.

Pro-government forces have tightened their grip around the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo – where the local governor has said safe corridors have been opened for civilians to escape rebel-held areas.

Hael Asi Hilal, head of the Syrian Red Crescent in rebel-held areas, said no family so far had been able to leave to government-held areas via any corridor due to snipers firing at them.

Syrian state television said the army had advanced in the Bani Zeid district, on the southern side of the Castello road.

“We are all awaiting and urging the two co-chairs – which means Russian Federation and the U.S.- to expedite their own discussions on how to reduce violence”, de Mistura said.

It comes as Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault and called or the Syrian regime and its allies to end their “disastrous” siege on the city.

“Without urgent humanitarian access food supplies are expected to run out over the next few weeks and Aleppo might well turn into the largest humanitarian tragedy of this conflict which has already brought so much suffering”.