Geneva: The United Nations said on Tuesday it had reports of Syrian government troops and allied Iraqi militia killing civilians in eastern Aleppo, including 82 people in four different neighbourhoods in the last few days.
Rupert Colville, spokesman of the UN human rights office, voiced deep fear of retribution against thousands of civilians still believed to be holed up in a "hellish corner" of less than a square kilometre of opposition-held areas.
"In all, as of yesterday [Monday] evening, we have received reports of pro-government forces killing least 82 civilians, including 11 women and 13 children, in four different neighbourhoods," Mr Colville told a news briefing, adding that there could be "many more".
"The reports we had are of people being shot in the street trying to flee and shot in their homes."
Jens Laerke, UN humanitarian spokesman, said that it looked like "a complete meltdown of humanity in Aleppo".
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia, is close to taking back control of Aleppo, which was Syria's most populous city before the war and would be his greatest prize after nearly six years of conflict.
Reuters