Syria war crisis: Eastern Aleppo faces ‘total ruin’ in two months

Rebel-held eastern Aleppo in northern Syria may face “complete destruction” in two months, with thousands killed, the UN’s Syria envoy has said.

Staffan de Mistura told reporters that he was prepared to accompany al Qaeda-linked jihadists out of the city if the fighting would stop.

He also appealed to Syria and Russia never to ruin the city for the benefit of removing militants.

The UN says 275,000 civilians are trapped in the war-torn east of Aleppo.

“The important thing is, in no more than two months… the city of eastern Aleppo at this speed may be completely ruined,” Mr de Mistura told a news conference in Geneva.

He added: “This is what you, we, the world will be seeing when we will be trying to celebrate Christmas, or the end of the year, if this continues at this rate, unimpeded. Homs [Syrian city] multiplied by 50.”