Turkey 'outraged over massacre' of civilians in Aleppo

By Handan Kazanci

ISTANBUL

Turkish Foreign Ministry has decried the massacre of a large number of civilians in the Syrian city of Aleppo by the Syrian regime.

“We are terrified and outraged over the massacre of a large number of civilians, including women and children by the [Syrian] regime and its supporters in eastern Aleppo where there is a siege and heavy bombardment since last July,” the ministry said in a statement.

Regime forces have not allowed access to humanitarian aid for months to people in eastern Aleppo and destroyed civil infrastructures such as hospitals, schools, and networks for water and electricity, the ministry said.

“No chance has been given to civilians who want to leave the city,” the statement added.

Turkey also called for an immediate cessation of attacks in Aleppo and the safe evacuation of people in eastern parts of the city.

“Turkey continues its initiatives with relevant countries and international organizations,” the ministry added.

According to the UN, the Syrian regime and its allies entered homes and shot dozens of civilians dead during its offensive in eastern Aleppo on Monday.

"We have been receiving reports of many civilians being detained by pro-government forces. We also have been informed that pro-government forces have been entering civilians’ homes and killing individuals found inside, including women and children," Rupert Colville, spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said at a press conference in Geneva Tuesday.

"We received reports of pro-government forces killing at least 82 civilians, including 11 women and 13 children," Colville added.

Over the course of the last 27 days, an estimated 990 civilians have been killed in eastern Aleppo in attacks by the Syrian regime and allied militias, according to local source-based reports from the city.