Is Russia Still Bombing Aleppo? How To Help Evacuation Efforts For Syrian Victims

Aleppo residents and activists on the ground reported Thursday's citywide evacuation attempt turned into a night of continued destruction in the besieged city, as government snipers targeted humanitarian aid envoys.

The evacuation deal, brokered between Syrian rebel forces, Russia and Turkey, was set to happen this week in an effort to rescue the city’s remaining 150,000 residents. President Bashar al-Assad's regime forces reportedly attacked ambulances, however, targeting those fleeing the war-torn city in search of the most basic necessities. With several battling groups still fighting throughout the historic city’s Eastern region, it was not immediately clear whether Russian forces were behind the latest violence plaguing Aleppo. Afghani Shiite forces supporting the Assad regime could have been the perpetrators behind attacks on evacuating residents, CNN reported Thursday morning.

Abdulkafi Alhamdo, an Aleppo resident who previously spoke to International Business Times about daily life in Syria, said it was currently impossible to evacuate, as civilians fear being targeted and killed. The father and teacher reported Assad’s regime was targeting checkpoints where thousands had gathered for buses to take them out of the city. "Many were injured. They don’t let anyone out," Alhamdo posted on Facebook. The White Helmets, an activist group of volunteer emergency workers, also reported one of its volunteers had been shot by a "Regime sniper" on Twitter Thursday morning.

The evacuation effort’s rocky start could be due to confusion on the ground, as some forces might not yet had received notice of the ceasefire planned to go into effect this week. It seems the deal has remained in place, however, as the New York Times reported Thursday that Russian forces will monitor the transportation of Aleppo residents with drones.

"We are now receiving information from the Russians that they would indeed want us to participate in the evacuation," Jan Egeland, a United Nations humanitarian advisor for Syria, told Reuters Thursday. "But confirmation only seems to come now, this morning, which is very late, because it is already ongoing and there have already been security incidences."

When the thousands of Aleppo residents are finally transported to safety, and humanitarian volunteers are capable of safely administering aid, the need for essential supplies will be more crucial than ever before. Dozens of organizations are waiting outside of the city, near the Syrian border in Turkey.

Doctors Without Borders currently has an exhaustive humanitarian effort to provide care to Aleppo residents. The International Rescue Committee is also on the ground with aid envoys set to be delivered to Syrians. Once accessible border corridors into the country are safe, Islamic Relief USA told IBT it was ready to provide at least $2 million in aid to Aleppo residents. Organizers in several humanitarian campaigns provide much needed funds to provide incoming residents with resources, several organizers on the ground said.

However, activists also noted global audiences watching the developments in Aleppo unfold online and across national news networks can do more than just send money and spread awareness. Islamic Relief USA's Omar Sawan previously told IBT resolutions to the ongoing crisis in Syria must include political efforts. Amnesty International has been urging those watching demand the United Nations supports the safe evacuation of Aleppo residents by signing a letter on its site.

"The lives of tens of thousands of people are in the hands of the Syrian, Russian and Iranian governments," Amnesty International said in a statement posted to its website Thursday. "Take two minutes to demand these governments safely evacuate the people trapped there now and that UN monitors are deployed to monitor evacuations and protect people from harm."

As evacuation attempts resumed Thursday morning, Aleppo residents remained alarmed in the wake of continued tragedy, yet hopeful for their safety. "I hope the future is better, I hope my daughter gets older and can come back to Aleppo," Alhamdo told IBT in a voice recording via Whatsapp on Thursday. "I hope the future is better for all of us."