‘Russia obstructing humanitarian aid to Aleppo’

US, UK France call for immediate ceasefire amid the humanitarian disaster ‘taking place before our eyes’

Paris: The United States, Britain and France led a call Wednesday from six countries for an immediate ceasefire to allow aid into the besieged Syrian city of Aleppo.

A statement jointly issued with Canada, Germany and Italy also hit out at the regime in Damascus and its “foreign backers, especially Russia,” accusing them of blocking emergency help.

“The urgent need now is for an immediate ceasefire to allow the United Nations to get humanitarian assistance to people in eastern Aleppo,” the statement said.

The countries said 200,000 civilians in Aleppo, including many children, were “cut off from food and medicine supplies.”

A humanitarian disaster is “taking place before our very eyes,” the six countries said.

“We condemn the actions of the Syrian regime and its foreign backers, especially Russia, for their obstruction of humanitarian aid,” the statement said.

They called on Iran and Russia to “use their influence” to ensure Damascus agrees the U.N.’s four-point plan for Aleppo.

The plan aims at allowing humanitarian aid into the shattered east of the city where regime forces are seizing control of rebel-held areas, and for sick or injured to be evacuated.