What Russia says<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The Russian Defence Ministry, quoted by the Interfax news agency, says more than 20,000 civilians have left eastern Aleppo on Saturday.<br /><br /> The Ministry also says more than 1,200 rebels opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have laid down their arms.<br /><br /> “People are leaving through humanitarian corridors in a continuous flow into the part of the city that is controlled by the Syrian government,” Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov is quoted as saying by Interfax.<br /><br /> “93% of the city of Aleppo is today under the control of the Syrian authorities,” Donashenkov added.<br /><br /> “We appeal to those who, over the last few months, have said they are ready to send humanitarian aid to Aleppo.”<br /><br /> “50,000 people have left eastern Aleppo in the last two days and they are in need of that humanitarian aid.”<br /><br /> Konashenkov added that, after the removal of civilians was completed, Syrian government forces would continue to “liberate” eastern Aleppo.<br /><br /> Backed by Russia and other allies, Syrian forces have taken control of nearly all of the rebel enclave in the eastern neighbourhoods.<br /><br /> The Syrian government now controls 93 percent of Aleppo, according to Russian news agencies who are quoting the Russian Defence Ministry.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> What the UN says<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /> The UN says it is “gravely concerned” about the safety of civilians in Aleppo.<br /><br /> In a statement on Friday, the organisation estimates there may be around 100,000 civilians in areas of Aleppo under opposition control in eastern Aleppo.<br /><br /> A further 30,000 are believed to have fled to areas under government control.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> Read the UN’s statement here<br />
