United Nations Security Council on 19th Dec 2016 voted to deploy UN observers to Syrian city Aleppo for monitoring evacuations and reporting on the wellbeing of civilians.
The council unanimously adopted a French drafted resolution 2328 in 2016 marking the first show of unity amidst world powers on this issue.
This measure ensures that UN will be carrying out neutral monitoring and direct observation on evacuations from eastern Aleppo and other districts of the city.
The observers will take note of efforts to carry out evacuations of fighters and civilians from Aleppo.
Evacuations must be considered in consonance with international humanitarian principles and laws.
The observers will also ensure safe passage of civilians from eastern districts of Aleppo under the UN monitoring and coordination.
All parties have been called to ensure safe and immediate passage of the UN to ensure humanitarian assistance reaches people through the most direct route.
Secretary General must take steps to make arrangements to permit the observation by the UN of the well being of civilians.
Secretary General will report to the UNSC on the implementation of the resolution within 5 days of the resolution adoption.
Strikes in Aleppo- Aleppo is the largest city in Syria.
- It saw major military confrontation between Syrian opposition in cooperation with Army of Conquest and the Syrian Armed Forces of the Syrian government.
- This is known as the Battle of Aleppo which began on 19th July 2012. It is part of the ongoing Syrian Civil War
- Syrian Armed forces of the Syrian government are supported by Hezbollah and Shiite militias and Russia.
- Army of Conquest includes Al Nusra Front, formerly the Al Qaeda branch of Syria.
- Large scale devastation of the battle has called combatants to name it the mother of battles or Syria’s Stalingrad.
- Battle caused catastrophic destruction to the Old City of Aleppo, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- This is one of the longest sieges in modern warfare.
- Battle has left 31,000 people dead.
- Overall war casualties estimated at 400,000.
