UN seeks control of Russia escape corridors out of Aleppo

The UN today asked Russia to give it control of humanitarian passages out of Aleppo in northern Syria where besieged residents cowered indoors afraid to use what some called "death corridors".
Syrian regime ally Russia has announced the opening of three humanitarian passages for civilians wanting to flee rebel-held eastern districts of the city and for fighters to surrender.
But only a handful of Aleppo residents trickled out through one passage today, while others wanting to flee were turned back by rebels, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
"Around 12 people managed to use the Bustan al-Qasr corridor before rebel groups reinforced security measures and prevented families from approaching the corridors," said the monitoring group's head, Rami Abdel Rahman.

An AFP correspondent in east Aleppo said streets were empty in the morning with residents holed up indoors and shops shuttered.
Ahmad Ramadan from the opposition Syrian National Coalition accused Russia and the regime of forcing civilians to flee through continued bombing raids.

"Aleppo residents are calling the corridors that Russia is talking about 'death corridors'," he said.
The Observatory said regime aircraft bombed eastern areas of Aleppo overnight.
UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura said Russia should let the United Nations take charge of the corridors as a reassurance to the beleaguered population.
"Our suggestion is to Russia to actually leave the corridors being established at their initiative to us," he said.

"How can you expect people to want to walk through a corridor, thousands of them, while there is shelling, bombing, fighting?"
The UN says around 250,000 people have been trapped in Aleppo's eastern districts since July 17 when pro-regime forces surrounded the area.
Residents have reported food shortages and spiralling prices in rebel districts since regime forces cut off the opposition's main supply route into the northern city.
Aid agencies and analysts said the humanitarian corridors must be exploited to send desperately needed supplies to the besieged areas which has not received any medical aid since July 7.
"Those who decide, for whatever reason, to stay in eastern Aleppo must be protected, and all sides must allow humanitarian agencies to reach and assess their well-being and needs," said the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The US-based International Rescue Committee warned that those left behind in east Aleppo risked starvation and called for a pause in fighting.