Statement by the HR/VP Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Stylianides on the humanitarian situation in Aleppo

The recent closure of the last remaining supply route has turned Eastern Aleppo in Syria into a de-facto besieged area, cutting off around 300,000 people from any form of vital assistance. Since 7 July, neither aid staff nor supplies have been allowed to enter. The EU calls for an immediate humanitarian pause in fighting to ensure medical evacuations and the delivery of medicine, food and water from and into Eastern Aleppo as the humanitarian situation has deteriorated dramatically. Without urgent humanitarian access food supplies are expected to run out over the next few weeks and Aleppo might well turn into the largest humanitarian tragedy of this conflict which has already brought so much suffering. This is simply unacceptable. The use of starvation of civilians through the besiegement of populated areas for which the regime bears the greatest responsibility, as a tactic of war, is contrary to international law. What we need is an immediate lifting of sieges across Syria and unhindered country-wide humanitarian access. The EU will continue to support the efforts of the UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura in facilitating a peaceful settlement, while continuing to support the people in need with lifesaving humanitarian aid. Read the full statement here.