ICRC Welcomes Moscow-Damascus Large-Scale Humanitarian Operation in Aleppo

Humanitarian corridors in Syria must be well-planned and established with the consent on all sides, The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) press officer for Middle East told Sputnik Thursday.

MOSCOW — The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) welcomes the announcement of the Russian and Syrian governments to launch joint large-scale humanitarian relief operation to assist Syria’s Aleppo, ICRC press officer for Middle East told Sputnik on Thursday, noting that the humanitarian corridors must be well-planned and set with the consent on all sides.

Earlier in the day, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Moscow and Damascus had launched a joint large-scale humanitarian relief operation in Aleppo, establishing three corridors for civilians and one for gunmen wishing to lay down arms, and said that Moscow offered the international organizations working in Syria to join this operation.

 “We have repeatedly called on the warring parties to reconcile, but every time the militants violated the cessation of hostilities, shelled villages, attacked the positions of government troops. As a result, a complex humanitarian situation has been created in Aleppo and its suburbs,” Shoigu told reporters.

He said the joint operation, with facilities distributing food and medical aid at the humanitarian corridors, was launched in accordance with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s instructions “solely in order to ensure the safety of the residents of Aleppo.”

Shoigu pointed out that a fourth corridor for gunmen wishing to surrender was established in northern Aleppo because the United States failed to provide data on the separation between the Nusra Front and the armed groups affiliated to the so-called “Free Syrian Army”.

“Any initiative that can give civilians respite from the hostilities — such as from the intense and indiscriminate fighting we have seen recently on all sides — and allows them to leave for safer areas can be positive. But humanitarian corridors need to be well-planned, and must be implemented with the consent of parties on all sides,” Krista Armstrong said.

She stressed that the consent of all parties for the implementation of humanitarian corridors “is essential so that people can leave safely, if they chose to do so, and that if they are displaced suitable assistance, protection and shelter can be provided.”

Source: Sputnik

H.M