De Mistura Welcomes Russian Support of Humanitarian Pause in Aleppo

UN Special Envoy For Syria Staffan de Mistura welcomes Russian support of his initiative to introduce a pause of at least 48 hours to deliver UN humanitarian aid to the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo, De Mistura's office in Geneva said Thursday. The UN also counts on the US and to ensure Syrian opposition respects the humanitarian pause.

GENEVA (Sputnik) — The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier on Thursday it was ready to support a two-day pause in hostilities in Aleppo to supply local residents in the whole city with food and medical supplies.

"The Special Envoy welcomes the Russian Federation statement, and the United Nations humanitarian team is now set to mobilize itself to respond to this challenge…," De Mistura's office said in a statement.

"The United Nations further counts on all those with access to or influence on the armed opposition, in particular the United States, as ISSG co-chair, as well as other relevant ISSG members, to ensure that the armed opposition also respects the 48-hours humanitarian pause," the statement added.

"The United Nations counts on the Russian Federation to deliver their part, regarding, in particular, the adherence of the Syrian armed forces to the pause, once it comes into effect," the statement said.