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Conflict in Syria

UN Secretary General welcomes Russia’s unilateral pause in Aleppo bombing

According to Ban Ki-moon, "extremist elements must be isolated" and "the government must agree to ground its air force over Aleppo"

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon EPA/DANIEL REINHARDT

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

© EPA/DANIEL REINHARDT

UNITED NATIONS, October 21 /TASS/. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the unilateral pause in Aleppo bombing announced by Russia. Speaking at the informal meeting of the UN General Assembly, he said that the pause helps implement the medial evacuation plan.

"I welcome the unilateral pause in the bombing, announced by the Russian Federation, which began today. This has helped pave the way for the implementation of the UN’s medical evacuation plan. UN agencies and our partners are preparing to carry out urgent medical evacuations, and provide emergency medical supplies, for hundreds of sick and critically wounded people and their families in eastern Aleppo," Secretary General said.

According to Ban Ki-moon, "extremist elements must be isolated" and "the (Syrian - TASS) government must agree to ground its air force over Aleppo." "This will require robust and credible monitoring and compliance mechanisms," he added.

Secretary General also said as "the conflict continues to reach new and awful depths", "the results have been horrific." "Nearly 500 people have been killed and nearly 2,000 injured. More than a quarter of all deaths are children," Ban Ki-moon said.

Earlier this week Russia’s Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said the Russian and Syrian aviation stopped delivering airstrikes in the area of Aleppo from 10 a.m. (07:00 GMT) on October 18 in order to establish a "humanitarian pause" starting October 20.

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Middle East conflict

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