UN: Terrorists Blocking Civilians from Fleeing E Aleppo
Local Editor
Syrian militants are blocking civilians from fleeing the eastern part of Aleppo as Syrian Army troops advance in the city, the United Nations human rights office said Friday.
"Some of the civilians who are attempting to flee are reportedly being blocked by armed opposition groups," rights office spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva.
The statement came hours after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Syrian Army troops suspended their active operations in Aleppo to allow the evacuation of civilians.
The army has recaptured 85% of the eastern sector of the city which the rebels had held since summer 2012.
It is unclear how many civilians remain in militant-occupied territory, but there were an estimated 250,000 in east Aleppo prior to the latest offensive.
The UN spokesperson said that more than 100,000 people were believed to remain inside the areas controlled by the militants in east Aleppo, but warned the situation was very fluid and the numbers were unclear.
He said armed groups were blocking civilians from leaving their shrinking enclave, and had abducted and killed people who protested their presence.
During the last two weeks, Fatah al-Sham Front [formerly al-Nusra Front] and the Abu Amara Battalion are alleged to have abducted and killed an unknown number of civilians who requested the armed groups to leave their neighborhoods, to spare the lives of civilians," he added.
In addition, the groups had reportedly "demanded that activists inform them of civilians attempting to leave, along with the names of those who participated in protests against the presence of Fatah al-Sham Front and groups affiliated with them" in several neighborhoods a few weeks ago, Colville said.
The Russian military said it has helped more than 8,000 civilians leave the militant-occupied eastern part of Aleppo.
The military's Center for Reconciliation in Syria said early Friday that 8,461 civilians, including 2,934 children, have left Aleppo's eastern neighborhoods in the last 24 hours.
The center said 14 militants surrendered their weapons and were granted amnesty.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team
