UN: Another 82 Civilians Killed in Aleppo

As the battle for Aleppo reaches its final stages and government forces are on the verge of fully retaking the city, international figures and organizations have expressed concern over civilian casualties in the area. According to the Associated Press, the UN Human Rights Office reports receiving information about the deaths of at least 82 civilians by pro-Assad forces in Aleppo, including 11 women and 13 children. Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office, stated that the organization has received reports of government forces entering homes and killing individuals 'on the spot.' The Associated Press notes that these reports, which cannot yet be confirmed by independent sources, have heightened concerns about heavy civilian casualties in eastern Aleppo. Since 2012, Aleppo has been divided into government and rebel-controlled areas. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned on Monday night about the reports of 'atrocities' occurring in Aleppo, but emphasized that the UN cannot independently verify these reports. The Associated Press also reports that several residents of Aleppo and Syrian activists have told the agency that pro-government forces executed rebels in the streets of Aleppo. However, the Syrian army has denied these reports, claiming that such actions are a 'desperate attempt' to garner international sympathy. Meanwhile, Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, stated that hundreds of people are still buried under the rubble. The UN office in Geneva has also reported receiving information from several sources about the execution of dozens of civilians in Al-Ahrar Square and Al-Qasr Park. The Syrian army claims to currently control 99 percent of the city of Aleppo. On Tuesday, the International Red Cross urged all parties involved to respect the lives of civilians in Aleppo, stating that thousands in eastern Aleppo have virtually no place to escape. Meanwhile, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmuş said that if it is too late for a ceasefire, the international community should find a way to provide aid to Aleppo. French President François Hollande has also called on Russia to take action for the civilians in Aleppo trapped in rebel areas.