UN tells Russia, ‘Leave creation of humanitarian corridors to us’

The UN called on Russia yesterday to leave the creation of humanitarian corridors in Aleppo to the international organisation. Making the announcement, UN Special Envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura noted that this is the core of the UN’s job.

Speaking to reporters in the UN office in Geneva, De Mistura said that he did not know any details about the Russian proposal, which was first announced by Moscow on Thursday. “That is our job,” he said, expressing his support “in principle” for humanitarian corridors “under the right circumstances.”

Nevertheless, he asked, “How do you expect people to walk through a corridor, thousands of them, while there is shelling, bombing, fighting?” The UN official pointed out that he is awaiting clarification from Russia about Moscow’s plan. “The clock is ticking for the Aleppo population,” he added.

According to the UN, there are about 300,000 civilians trapped in Aleppo by forces loyal to the Assad regime. They have been besieged there for several years.

AP has reported that rights groups and civilians trapped in opposition-held neighbourhoods in eastern Aleppo have said that the Russian plan does not guarantee safe passage or give residents a choice of where they might flee to. The media agency also said that some residents fear that the proposed corridors are intended to restore government control over parts of the city that have been in rebel hands since 2012.