Forces loyal to the Assad regime have seized control of the last road into the largely opposition-held city of Aleppo, cutting off supplies of food and aid to 300,000 people who are now at risk of death and starvation.
The capture of the Kastello road, which had been used by opposition as well as merchants bringing food into the city, further tightens Assad’s grip on opposition areas in the north.
“It’s completely cut,” Zakaria Malahifji of the Aleppo-based opposition group Fastaqim, told Reuters.
Though Assad forces had already captured ground around the road a fortnight ago, some supplies had still been able to get through to residents. But this is no longer possible.
Fighting has intensified in the area as Syrian opposition groups fight to regain control of the road.
The UN High Commissioner for Human rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has warned the situation is “deeply worrying”.
In addition to opposition fighters, over 150,000 civilians are now effectively trapped in Aleppo, The Independentreported.
“Aleppo is under full ground siege after the regime took some points on the road,” Aleppo-based activist Bahaa al-Halaby told PA.
Dr Samer Attar, a Chicago-based orthopaedic surgeon who has been working with local medics in Aleppo toldNBC News the loss of the road was a “death sentence” and had already had severe impacts on supplies of food and medicine.
He said: “People are running out of fresh fruit and meat. Hospitals and their staff are exhausted.”
The entire city “is going to be bombed and starved to death … unless the international community acts,” he added.
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