UN chief calls for “immediate end” to airstrikes in Syria

The “intense air assault” that has killed and maimed scores of Syrian civilians over the last several days has been condemned by the UN chief.

Ban Ki-moon denounced the indiscriminate shelling that has been reported in Aleppo, including strikes on schools said to have killed a number of children.

The airstrikes have also left eastern Aleppo without functioning hospitals.

Syrian civilians on all sides of the divide are at the receiving end of the escalating violence.

Mortars have also been fired at residential neighborhoods of Damascus and several suburbs of the city have been subjected to counter-shelling.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for the immediate end to any such attacks and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.

He reminded all parties to the conflict that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime.

Mr. Ban also called for all parties to ensure freedom of movement of civilians and “immediate unhindered” access to humanitarian assistance.

SOURCE: Jocelyne Sambira, United Nations.