The United Nations humanitarian chief and relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien said on Tuesday that up to 16,000 civilians have fled eastern Aleppo.

"The intensity of attacks on eastern Aleppo neighborhoods over the past few days has forced thousands of civilians to flee to other parts of the city", he said in a statement.

The area had no functioning hospitals left, food stocks were nearly exhausted and it was likely that thousands more people would flee their homes if fighting persisted in the coming days, he added.

The UN issued an urgent appeal to Syria's warring parties to halt attacks endangering civilians in Aleppo and allow humanitarian aid deliveries to besieged parts of the city.

Source: MENA