16,000 displaced in Aleppo

Up to 16,000 people have been displaced in Syria’s Aleppo, reported Reuters.

Quoting the United Nations humanitarian chief and relief coordinator Stephen O’Brien, Reuters reported that intense attacks on the rebel-held eastern part of the city is driving people out of the city.

In an emailed statement, O’Brien commented that the area had no functioning hospitals left, food stocks were nearly exhausted and it was likely that thousands more people would flee their homes if fighting persisted in the coming days.

“The situation is very bad. There’s intense fear of collective annihilation,” said a medic who lives in the area and gave his name as Abu Al-Abbas.

“This week I’ve changed locations three times,” he added. “In the shelter, we had dead people who we couldn’t take out because the bombardment was so intense.”

Aleppo has become the most pressing battle in Syria’s war, pitting President Bashar Al-Assad, backed by Russia, Iran and Shia militias, against mostly Sunni rebel groups including some supported by the United States, Turkey and Gulf monarchies.

Conditions in its oppositon-held eastern districts were already difficult after the army and its allies managed to impose a siege over the summer, followed by heavy bombardments using artillery, warplanes and helicopters dropping barrel bombs.

However, the fighting has escalated after the army began a new offensive last week, bringing more eastern Aleppo districts close to the front line as rescue and ambulance workers say their vehicles and equipment are running out of fuel.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said warplanes pounded eastern Aleppo districts overnight, killing at least 18 people, including 12 in Al-Shaar district near the new front line.