Syrian Government Siege of Aleppo Leaves Millions Without Access to Running Water

At least two million residents of the Syrian city of Aleppo have been left without running water, the Associated Press reports, citing the United Nations’ children’s agency. The U.N. has called for a “humanitarian pause” to allow for repairs to be made to the contested city’s infrastructure.

Instead, the Syrian government stepped up aerial bombardment of the city after rebel groups broke through the siege laid by Bashar al Assad’s forces over the weekend. Since the end of last month, the AP reports, the city’s residents have had access to running water for less than 24 hours.

“The UN reiterates its call for the immediate lifting of all sieges,” two U.N. aid officials, Yacoub El Hillo and Kevin Kennedy, said in a statement from Damascus. “When used to intentionally deprive people of food and other items essential to their survival, siege tactics constitute a war crime.”