PRESS RELEASE
Jihadis Blocking Delivery of Humanitarian Aid in Aleppo but Russia Is Blamed
Oct. 23, 2016 (EIRNS)—The jihadi groups in Aleppo, led by Jabhat Fateh al Sham, formerly known as the Al Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al Nusra, and Ahrar al Sham are blocking the delivery of humanitarian relief to eastern Aleppo and preventing the evacuation of civilians from there, especially those who need medical care. Yet, the Western powers seeking regime change in Damascus are nonetheless managing to blame Russia. A UN official told the Associated Press that Syrian opposition fighters were blocking the evacuations
"because the Syrian government and Russia were not holding up their end of the deal and were impeding deliveries of medical and humanitarian supplies into Aleppo."
Clearly, UN officials realize who is actually fault, but they’re pushing the Western line that it’s all Russia’s fault. Privately, an unnamed source in Geneva told Sputnik that
"The ICRC [Red Cross] has been trying to convince the representatives of the key armed groups (al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham) to allow access to eastern Aleppo to evacuate the wounded. There are hundreds of injured. The militants set a condition for giving access [to the area], [they] demand medical supplies and medical treatment of militants."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the West was turning a blind eye to the al-Qaeda militants blocking humanitarian aid deliveries to Aleppo and trying to shift the blame onto Moscow. "It’s mean and cynical to ... watch the Nusra block the delivery of food and medicines to civilians while blaming Russia for the humanitarian catastrophe in Aleppo," she said.
"Russia is working with UN in delivery of humanitarian assistance and evacuation of civilians, including children and those seeking medical help, from the seized districts of Aleppo,"
Zakharova continued, reports TASS. "This is hindered in all forms by militants of various terrorist units as they continue keeping civilians hostage."
"We are calling on all countries, having influence on the armed opposition and terrorists, to make everything to implement the undertaken obligations and master the militants,"
she said.
