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UN: Security Concerns Prevent Aleppo Evacuations

by VOA News

   The United Nations was forced to postpone planned medical evacuations
   in east Aleppo Friday because security assurances were not given by
   groups fighting in the city.

   "Medical evacuations of sick and injured could unfortunately not begin
   this morning as planned because the necessary conditions were not in
   place," said Jens Laerke, spokesman for the United Nations humanitarian
   office.

   Laerke didn't specify which groups failed to honor the humanitarian
   pause ordered by Russia a day earlier, saying only that the U.N. and
   the people of Aleppo were in an "astronomically difficult situation."

   Russia on Thursday ordered that a humanitarian pause in Aleppo be
   extended for another 24 hours.

   Syria and Russia stopped airstrikes on Aleppo Tuesday and the pause in
   fighting had been due to end at 7 p.m. local time Thursday.

   As part of the truce, the Syrian army has opened up eight corridors
   civilians can use to safely exit the city. Two of those corridors have
   also been opened up to rebel fighters who wish to lay down their
   weapons and flee; one leading to Turkey and the other a pathway to the
   rebel-held Syrian province of Idlib.

   The United Nations said about 250,000 civilians are in desperate need
   of supplies on Aleppo's eastern side and hundreds of others who
   urgently need of medical care need to be evacuated.

   U.N. and Red Cross trucks packed with supplies have been sitting near
   the Turkish border for weeks, awaiting guarantees they can safely
   deliver relief supplies.

   Syrian and Russian warplanes had been bombarding the area in an attempt
   to reclaim Aleppo from rebels.