Russia launches Syrian humanitarian mission

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - A “large-scale humanitarian operation” in Aleppo will see four corridors open to allow civilians and unarmed rebels to leave the north Syrian city, Russia’s defense minister said Thursday.

Sergey Shoigu said civilians would be able to leave through three of the corridors while fighters that lay down their weapons would use a fourth.

According to the TASS news agency, he said the plan was “in accordance with the order of the Russian president to start a large-scale humanitarian operation together with the Syrian government to provide assistance to the population of Aleppo”.

Russia is a major ally of the Syrian regime.

Shoigu added: “The Russian center for reconciliation of warring parties will open three humanitarian corridors together with the Syrian government to provide assistance to people who were taken hostage by terrorists, as well as for militants who want to lay down their arms.

“Mobile centers will be opened near these corridors to provide food and medical assistance to people.”

He said the move was “exclusively to ensure [the] security of Aleppo residents,” TASS reported, and asked that the Syrian regime grant an amnesty to surrendering combatants who had not be involved in “bloody crimes”.

The minister called for international humanitarian groups to join the operation.

Backed by Russian air power, forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad have surrounded and cut off Aleppo, where around 300,000 civilians remain. The UN has warned that food supplies are expected to run out in a few weeks.

The Syrian Center for Policy Research has said that more than 470,000 people have been killed in the five-year conflict.