UN humanitarian chief urges avoidance of civilian casualties in Aleppo fighting

(July 30, 2012) Amidst reports of heavy fighting in the city of Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria, the United Nations top humanitarian official on Sunday urged all parties in the Middle Eastern country to avoid civilian casualties and allow humanitarian access to people caught up in the violence. In a news release Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Valerie Amos, appealed for the people in Aleppo, Syria's most populous city, as well as in the capital Damascus and surrounding towns. Syria has been wracked by violence, with more than 10,000 people, mostly civilians, killed since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began some 16 months ago. In addition to Aleppo, there have been reports of an escalation in violence in many towns and villages, as well as Damascus. The UN estimates some 200,000 civilians - almost 10 percent of the population - have fled the fighting in Aleppo. Amos called on “all parties to the fighting to ensure that they do not target civilians and that they allow humanitarian organizations safe access to bring urgent and life-saving help to people caught up in the fighting.” On Friday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Navi Pillay, expressed “deep alarm” over the increased threat to civilians in Syria, and urged the country's Government and armed opposition to protect civilians and abide by their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law – or face the consequences.