‘Difficult to continue Geneva talks without ceasefire,’ insists UN

A spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday that it is impossible for the Geneva talks on Syria to go ahead without a ceasefire in place, Anadolu has reported.

Farhan Haqq made his comments in New York following the killing of three aid workers in rural Aleppo during a military operation carried out by the Syrian regime. “We deeply regret this incident and remind once again all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and humanitarian workers,” he said.

“There have been reports of intensified fighting and air strikes in Aleppo governorate in recent days,” explained Haqq, “and UN agencies have received reports of the displacement of thousands of people from towns in the north-east of the area over the past two days.”

He pointed out that the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is “extremely concerned” at the intensification of fighting and its impact on the civilian population, and continues to monitor the situation closely.