Syria-based humanitarian groups condemn attack on aid convoy in Aleppo

Several humanitarian organizations in Syria Tuesday condemned the airstrikes that targeted a warehouse of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) in the northern province of Aleppo.

In a joint statement, SARC as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said they were outraged by the "horrific attack" that was carried out on Monday evening on a SARC warehouse and an aid convoy in Orem Al Kubra in the countryside of Aleppo.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 12 people were killed in the attack. The warplanes were not identified, even though opposition activists accused the Syrian and Russian air force of being behind it, a claim denied later by Moscow.

Meanwhile, the joint statement said 20 civilians were killed as well as a SARC staff member, Omar Barakat, while they were unloading trucks carrying relief aid, much of which was also destroyed.

"The attack deprives thousands of civilians of much-needed food and medical assistance," the joint statement said.

"It is totally unacceptable that our staff and volunteers continue to pay such a high price because of the ongoing fighting," said the SARC President Abdulrahman Attar, according to the statement.

Tadateru Konoe, the President of the IFRC, called on the international community to ensure the protection of the aid workers, as "We are not part of this conflict."

The aforementioned organizations renewed calls on all parties to the conflict adhere to the rules of international humanitarian law, which includes protecting aid workers.

During the past six years, 54 staff and volunteers of SARC have lost their lives while on duty, the statement said.

On Tuesday, SARC said it will suspend operations for three days as a result of the attack. The UN also announced Tuesday it had suspended all aid convoys in Syria after its lorries were attacked by warplanes near Aleppo on Monday.

Source : XINHUA