Aleppo’s trapped orphans plead for rescue
ambulances as they started the evacuation. By noon as many as 21 buses and 19 ambulances carrying civilians and wounded had left and were heading towards opposition-held areas to the west of Aleppo. Elizabeth Hoff, the World Health Organisa- tion’s representative in Syria, said: “We saw women and small children on the buses and some men.”
Their rescue comes after being held under siege for weeks in ever-dwindling areas controlled by insurgent groups.
But there were increasing concerns about the welfare of sick women and children in desperate need of being rescued. Jan Egeland, UN humanitarian adviser for Syria, said: “Thousands are in need of evacuation, but the first and most urgent thing is wounded, sick and children – including orphans.”
BESIEGED
Thousands of children are trapped in the east of Aleppo. Many are in need of medical attention after being injured or falling victim to illnesses which cannot be treated in the besieged area. Save the Children also warned the use of cluster bombs by the regime has taken a huge toll on the city’s young.
One aid worker called Rami told the charity that patients were turning up at help stations with complicated injuries that were impossible to heal.
He said: “Everyone is attending with women and children. Medics are