Civilians fleeing east Aleppo need protection

Responding to the latest news reports on civilians displaced by the current military operations in Aleppo, Oxfam calls for protection for all civilians in all areas of the city:

Andy Baker, Oxfam’s lead for the Syria Crisis Response, said: "It is only now that residents of east Aleppo - who have faced intense and sustained bombardment by air and by land for years - are fleeing across conflict lines. This is a sign of how extreme the situation is in the east of the city, and the fact their safety is far from guaranteed in government held areas. The government of Syria and their armed allies must ensure fleeing civilians are safe and their rights are respected - no reprisal attacks, arbitrary detention or disappearances. 

"The vast majority of East Aleppo residents remain in the besieged and bombarded enclave. With nothing but their clothes on their back, they are sheltering where they can, with no food and no water. They are in desperate need of urgent and life-saving help and international action to stop the attacks on civilians. For their part, armed groups in Aleppo must facilitate civilians fleeing should they take the risk to do so. The international community cannot sit by while those women, men, and children go hungry, cold, and sick while being bombed."