UN: Two Million People in Aleppo Lack Access to Drinking Water and Electricity

On Tuesday, August 9, the United Nations called for an immediate ceasefire in the city of Aleppo, stating that two million residents lack access to drinking water, with children particularly at risk of infectious diseases. According to Reuters, aid groups must gain access to the city to deliver food and medicine to the people of Aleppo. The city's infrastructure and public services have been severely damaged due to heavy attacks last week, and technicians need to go to the city as soon as possible to repair the electricity network and drinking water pumps. The UN statement says, "If the electricity and water supply network in Aleppo is not repaired quickly, it will have dire consequences for millions of the city's residents." This statement was signed by Jakob Al-Hilo, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Syria, and Kevin Kennedy, the regional coordinator for the UN's Syria crisis. Following the blockade of the last communication route to rebel-controlled areas in July, it is estimated that 250,000 to 270,000 people in eastern Aleppo are trapped. On Saturday, rebels managed to break a month-long siege of their areas by the Syrian army. The rebels' advance has jeopardized the government forces' communication routes into the city, raising concerns that residents in government-controlled areas may also fall under rebel siege. The UN states that under these conditions, the number of civilians effectively under siege may exceed two million. On Tuesday, UN Special Envoy for the Syria crisis, Stefan de Mistura, and UN humanitarian coordinator Stephen O'Brien will report to the UN Security Council on the deteriorating situation of the Syrian people. Meanwhile, UNICEF announced on Tuesday that children, especially infants, are at risk of diarrhea and other infectious diseases due to the heat wave and contaminated drinking water. A UNICEF spokesperson said, "In the eastern part of Aleppo, about 300,000 people, half of whom are children, are forced to drink from wells contaminated with feces and are dangerous for consumption." According to him, UNICEF and other humanitarian organizations are transporting drinking water by truck to over 300,000 residents in the western part of Aleppo. At the same time, patients and the injured in Aleppo lack access to medical facilities. The World Health Organization reports at least ten attacks on medical centers in the city in July. A spokesperson for the organization said, "According to health officials in eastern Aleppo, currently, out of ten hospitals, eight are partially operational or completely out of service, and out of 28 clinics, 13 are only working at partial capacity or are entirely non-functional. Only 35 doctors remain in Aleppo and cannot meet the medical and treatment needs of the people." In this context, hundreds of Iraqi and Lebanese Shiite militants have "arrived in Aleppo to assist the Syrian government." Syrian opposition: The Assad regime has used chemical gas in an attack on a city. Russia accused Syrian rebels of using "toxic substances." Intense fighting in Aleppo; rebels claim the siege has been broken.