Dutch foreign minister warns of ‘looming disaster’ in Aleppo
The international community must put pressure on the Syrian government to end the siege of the city of Aleppo, Dutch foreign minister Bert Koenders says in an opinion piece in Monday’s Independent.
A major humanitarian disaster in the city can only be prevented by international pressure, Koenders says.
Some 300,000 civilians are trapped within the city. ‘The UN has rightfully described the current situation as both ‘medieval and shameful’,’ Koenders wrote. ‘Not unlike Rwanda or Srebrenica, there is a real risk that the name “Aleppo” will become synonymous with the world’s failure to act.’
‘To avert starvation and the deaths of thousands more of Aleppo’s citizens, the UN humanitarian agency has proposed opening regular 48-hour humanitarian corridors,’ Koenders said. ‘These corridors would allow the delivery of humanitarian aid and should not be blocked by the Security Council.’
‘It should be clear that the 300,000 people in this city cannot be left to the Assad regime and its supporters. That is a legacy we cannot afford.’
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