some 20 civilians killed in syria aid convoy attack red cross afp tuesday 20 sep 2016 the air raids that hit an aid convoy near aleppo killed around 20 people including a red crescent staff member the humanitarian organisation said tuesday. "around twenty civilians and one sarc (syrian arab red crescent) staff member were killed as they were unloading trucks carrying vital humanitarian aid" the international federation of red cross and red crescent societies (ifrc) said in a statement. mondays raid on the convoy destroyed at least 18 of 31 vehicles as well as a red crescent warehouse in orum al-kubra in aleppo province. "much of the aid was destroyed" ifrc said stressing that "the attack deprives thousands of civilians of much-needed food and medical assistance." omar barakat who headed the sarcs sub-branch on orum "succumbed to his injuries and died" ifrc spokesman benoit carpentier told reporters in geneva. sarc chief abdulrahman attar said the organisation was "totally devastated by the deaths of so many people" including barakat whom he described as "a committed and brave member of our family." "it is totally unacceptable that our staff and volunteers continue to pay such a high price because of the ongoing fighting" he said. according to ifrc syria is one of the worlds most dangerous conflicts for humanitarian workers. a total of 54 sarc volunteers and staff have been killed on duty in the war-ravaged country since the conflict began in 2011. the war has claimed more than 300000 lives including some 87000 civilians - 15000 of them children - according to the syrian observatory for human rights. the un humanitarian agency on tuesday demanded an investigation into mondays airstrikes on the convoy which had been carrying desperately needed aid for some 78000 people. "from what we know of yesterdays attack there has been a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law which is totally unacceptable" peter maurer head of the international committee of the red cross said in tuesdays statement.
some 20 civilians killed in syria aid convoy attack red cross