UN approves $19 million emergency response for Aleppo

“Families from east Aleppo are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance such as food and non-food items; and registration of birth, death, marriage and family papers and other legal services," the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Ali Al-Za’tari said.

Za’tari added that many people are also returning to severely damaged homes in the midst of winter while others have no home left to return to and are staying in shelters or with family members.

“The UN is committed to reaching all people in need wherever they are with shelter, water, food, nutrition, health, protection, education, and early recovery and livelihood support,” he stressed.

The UN says it has significantly scaled up operations to address the most urgent needs and pave the way to recovery efforts in Aleppo, with the Syria Humanitarian Fund - a multi-donor humanitarian pooled fund - part of efforts.

The fund will finance immediate assistance in all affected neighbourhoods of eastern Aleppo, as well as to collective shelters and other priority areas in Aleppo city where internally displaced people are staying, the UN said.

In addition, the funds will also provide residents of eastern Aleppo and displaced people with early recovery and livelihood interventions and support the rehabilitation of basic services and rubble removal to create the conditions for people to return to their homes.

After the Syrian regime retook Aleppo in December 2016, UN agencies were able to reach the devastated city to deliver life-saving aid. 

Nearly six years in, the conflict has killed more than 310,000 people and displaced half of Syria's pre-war population.