The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation expresses concern over the situation in Eastern Aleppo, which is presently under siege and systematically bombed by regime forces that spare nothing and nobody on their way. Air strikes continue to hit hospitals, schools and markets causing a very high number of casualties among civilians.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation supports the dialogue between the US and Russia within the International Syria Support Group and hopes that efforts underway will lead the two nations to find an agreement relaunching the cessation of hostilities and laying the grounds for intra-Syrian talks to resume in Geneva in view of a true political transition. In this context the destiny of Aleppo is crucial.
The Farnesina has taken good note of the Russian initiative to establish relief corridors under the military control of the Syrian regime forces so to let civilians in eastern Aleppo exit the city to have access to food and humanitarian aid. Italy emphasizes the need to guarantee the protection of civilians and the respect of international humanitarian law and hopes that the United Nations will be given the responsibility to address the humanitarian needs of the population of Aleppo, establishing ad-hoc “humanitarian pauses” in the current fighting – as already asked for by UN OCHA- to ensure that aid and food reach the city.
