Jan Egeland, the Special Advisor to UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said regarding the ceasefire and evacuations in Syria "Primarily IHH and all Turkish NGOs are doing a great job in evacuation operation. IHH has done a great job”.

International Syria Support Group (ISSG)’s Humanitarian Access Working Group held a meeting in Genewa in Switzerland.  

Following the meeting UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura held a press conference in UN Genewa Office and reported that thousands of civilians evacuated from eastern Aleppo transferred to the territories controlled by the opposition. “Many have gone to Iblib which could theoretically become the next Alleppo,” he said.

De Mistura said that "Today is a crucial day for the evacuation of all civilians” and highlighted that Turkish civil society took active role in evacuation of civilians from eastern Aleppo and did a great job in this regard. 

Mistura pointed out to the long negotiations between Turkey and Russia regarding Aleppo and expressed his happiness for the evacuation that happened with the arbitration of two countries.

De Mistura underlines that Turkey is the most affected country from the civil war in Syria.

"It’s the symbol of young girls”

When asked "Bana is happy to be evacuated but she wants to return Aleppo, is it going to happen?” regarding 7-year-old Bana el-Abed, who announced the massacre in Aleppo to the world via social media with the help of her mum, Mistura replied:

"I can clearly say yes to that. This little girl is the symbol of resistance, courage and humanity on behalf of everyone. We all have a responsibility to make sure that she returns to Aleppo not when she grows up but now.”

"IHH did a great job"

Jan Egeland, the Special Advisor to Staffan de Mistura said that an estimated 35.000 civilians left Aleppo this morning and the number could probably have reached 40.000 by now.

Egeland reported that 32 NGOs in collaboration with UN are providing humanitarian aid in Idlib and Aleppo’s countryside which is under opposition’s control. “Primarily IHH and all Turkish NGOs are doing a great job in evacuation operation. IHH has done a great job,” he said.

Egeland noted that UN has access to certain parts in Aleppo to deliver humanitarian aid yet they still were not able to reach to civilians trapped in a very narrow part.

Jan Egeland expressed that "I believe evacuations saved the lives of many people. But there are 15 more territories under siege apart from Aleppo. And there has been no improvement in the conditions of these territories as all eyes were on Aleppo. We are ready to do our job but they should allow us have Access to those regions.”