50,000 Syrians Flee Aleppo As Fight Intensifies

As fight continues to intensify in the Aleppo province of Syria, 50,000 residents flee the area, with fears of a ceasefire in the near future, hours before a crucial meeting of major powers in Germany on how to end the five-year-old Syrian civil war.

Aleppo, which happens to be the most populous province of the country, and also the most vulnerable area to the ongoing conflict, is barely coping up in this turmoil. "The fighting is putting enormous pressure on civilians. The temperatures are extremely low and, without an adequate supply of food, water and shelter, displaced people are trying to survive in very precarious conditions," said ICRC's chief in Syria, Marianne Gasser, who is currently in Aleppo.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, 500 people have already lost their lives in the last 10 days in Aleppo since the Syrian government, backed by Russian air strikes, launched a major offensive from the north of Aleppo on February 1. The Observatory said among those killed there are "89 civilians, including 23 children, 143 pro-government fighters, 274 rebels and foreign fighters".  Another 30,000 people are waiting in the Turkish border to seek refuge after fleeing the province. On Wednesday, 10th February, Reuters reported that Russia proposed a ceasefire to begin on March 1, although the Russian ambassador to the UN did not confirm the report.

The UN has asked Turkey to open its gates for the thousands and thousands of Syrians who want to seek refuge in their country, who are stranded near the Bab al-Salameh crossing. Turkish Prime Minister, Ahmet  Davutoglu, said on Wednesday during a conference in the Hague that the refugee crisis  is not an issue that only a single country or its neighboring countries could bear, but an issue for humanity. "I view the advice as hypocrisy given by several circles who do not move their muscle for a solution of the crisis in Syria. Unfortunately [this] includes the UN Security Council, who cannot say 'stop' to Russian bombardment that leads to a flow of refugees to Turkey to 'open your doors'," Davutoglu said.   

The meeting in Germany which is about to take place on Thursday, is in a bid to resurrect Syrian peace talks. It will be attended by Russia, the US, Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Earlier this month, all peace talks were suspended till 25th February after UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said more work was needed to make progress.