UN chief expresses concern as thousands of civilians are trapped in last remaining opposition-held areas.

Al-Jazeera, Dec. 13, 2016 – UN chief Ban Ki-moon has expressed alarm over reports of atrocities against civilians, as the battle for Aleppo entered its final phase with Syrian government forces on the verge of retaking all remaining rebel-held areas of the city.
“The secretary-general is alarmed over reports of atrocities against a large number of civilians, including women and children, in recent hours in Aleppo,” his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Tuesday.
Activists in Aleppo have reported summary executions as pro-government forces enter districts once under control of the opposition.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 60 opposition members have been killed.
Jan Egeland, the UN humanitarian adviser on Syria, tweeted that Russia’s and Syria’s governments would be responsible for any abuses.

The Gov’ts of Syria & Russia are accountable for any and all atrocities that the victorious militias in Aleppo are now committing!

“The opposition is describing the situation in besieged areas as catastrophic,” Al Jazeera reporting from Antakya in southern Turkey.
“They are issuing an urgent appeal to evacuate civilians who are trapped in besieged areas,” Al-Jazeera reporter said. “Tens of thousands of people are believed to be in a very small pocket of territory coming under intense bombardment.
“There have been desperate messages from people trapped inside asking, ‘Where is humanity?’, ‘Where is the world?’, ‘Why is nobody helping us?'”

Tens of thousands of people remain in rebel-held areas of Aleppo

The fall of Aleppo would be the biggest rebel defeat since Syria’s conflict began in 2011, and leave the government in control of the country’s five major cities.
According to the AFP news agency, a Syrian military official in Aleppo said late on Monday: “We’re living the final moments before victory.”
“The operation in eastern neighborhoods is entering its final phase,” he said earlier, as fierce clashes were reported in the few districts still under rebel control.
The pro-government TV network Alikbariyah Syria broadcast footage of celebrations in the streets of west Aleppo, as people handed out chocolates and congratulated each other on “the victory”.
“The joy of the people and the army are one,” said one driver, wearing military fatigues.