Russia declares daily cease-fires in Aleppo to allow aid

Russia and the United States are discussing possible organization of humanitarian deliveries to Syria’s Aleppo on a permanent basis using the Castello highway that was blocked following escalation of the situation around that city, Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said on Tuesday. “They are counting on us to deliver assistance and end their suffering”, he stressed, pointing out that meanwhile, the targeting of hospitals and clinics continues unabated, seriously jeopardizing the health and welfare of all citizens.

Rudskoy said that “more than 1,000 were killed and about 2,000 wounded” in the rebel ranks over the past four days southwest of Aleppo.

Young children are especially vulnerable to diarrhea and other water-borne diseases from a heatwave and drinking dirty water, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said.

The situation on the southwestern approaches to the Syrian city of Aleppo remains hard with heavily armed militants amassing there in the past week, he said.

“The distribution of clean water can not wait until the end of these battles.”, added her.

The United Nations, which has earlier called for 48-hour weekly pauses for the aid deliveries, said the three-hour truce announced by Russian Federation would not be enough to meet the needs of civilians in the war-battered Syrian city.

The move triggered counterattacks by the rebels, which fired mortars and rockets continuously on the government-controlled western part of the city.

Fighting between government forces and rebels has intensified in recent weeks.

O’Brien also said there had been no emergency deliveries to Aleppo this month, despite a previously negotiated agreement for humanitarian access.

Russian Federation warned on Tuesday that the next round of Syria peace talks should not be contingent on a halt to fighting in Aleppo after U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura told the U.N. Security Council he aims to reconvene negotiations in late August. “We could deliver these within 24 to 48 hours if we have safe access”. “They are courageous but they are not suicidal; we have to have security conditions in place”, O’Brien added.

And the water that’s still available through wells and tanks isn’t almost enough to sustain the population’s needs, warned United Nations emergency relief coordinator Stephen O’Brien on Tuesday in a statement.

But forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad are putting up a fierce fight and have begun pouring in reinforcements. Syrian government forces have been bolstered by Russian air support.

U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power said the humanitarian crisis was only getting worse.

Information for this article was contributed by Rick Gladstone of The New York Times; and by Philip Issa and Michael Astor of The Associated Press.