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       UN: Millions in Syria's Aleppo Without Running Water, Electricity

   by Lisa Schlein, Edward Yeranian

   The United Nations warned Tuesday that millions of people in the Syrian
   city of Aleppo have no access to running water or electricity and
   called for a halt to the fighting so the broken systems can be
   immediately repaired and humanitarian aid delivered.

   Communities in both east and west Aleppo have borne the brunt of the
   vicious conflict between Syrian government and rebel forces during the
   past few weeks.  Countless civilians have been killed and wounded.

   Attacks this week have severely damaged Aleppo's electric and water
   infrastructure.  U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
   Affairs spokesman Jens Laerke warns of dire consequences if vital
   networks are not quickly restored.

   "Our concern today is really for the entire city, east or west and the
   suburbs of Aleppo where we have up to two million people who may be cut
   off from water and electricity.  It is critical, as we heard,
   temperatures are very high and with such a density of people, the
   health risks are enormous," Laerke said.

   `At a grave risk'

   UNICEF spokesman Christophe Boulierac warned children and families in
   Aleppo are facing a catastrophic situation.

   "These cuts are coming amid a heat wave, putting children in Aleppo at
   a grave risk of waterborne diseases," he said. "And that getting clean
   water running again cannot wait for the fighting to stop."

   UNICEF warns Aleppo's two million residents face an increase of
   diarrhea and malnutrition among children unless water pumping is
   restored soon.

   ''
   U.N. agencies have repeatedly called for regular 48-hour humanitarian
   pauses to provide desperately needed aid to millions in Aleppo.  They
   note food and medicine stocks are running dangerously low in east
   Aleppo, where more than one quarter of a million civilians have been
   trapped since early July.

   U.N. relief agencies also are extremely worried the sick and wounded
   are not receiving needed medical care.

   Sides apparently deadlocked

   Meanwhile, the Syrian government has reportedly sent several thousand
   reinforcements to mount a counterattack south of Aleppo, in a bid to
   recapture territory taken by rebel factions in recent days.

   Syrian state TV broadcast an urgent plea for volunteers amid reports
   the army and its Lebanese Hezbollah allies were bringing in
   reinforcements to try and retake a strategic corridor south and west of
   Aleppo.

   Heavy fighting took place along Aleppo's southern outskirts of Khan
   Assel, Khan Toman, Atareb and Sarmada, and there were reports of heavy
   government and Russian airstrikes of rebel forces defending a supply
   corridor into the city.

   ''

   According to Syrian government media, the Syrian military and its
   militia allies stopped rebels from advancing through a destroyed
   housing complex south of the city, demolishing dozens of armed
   vehicles.

   Hilal Khashan, who teaches political science at the American University
   of Beirut, however, discounted any major advance by the government or
   rebels in Aleppo.

   "I don't believe that either side will prevail in the battle for
   Aleppo, despite the recent attack or the counterattack by government
   forces or their allies," he said.

   He argues that "a decisive victory by either party precludes the
   possibility for a negotiated settlement," and says that "an equilibrium
   will need to be maintained, whereby all local allies will be losers and
   their regional and international backers will have to reach a
   negotiated settlement for the distribution of the spoils."
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-aleppo-water-electricity/345718
   6.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/syria-aleppo-water-electricity/3457186.html