UN humanitarian chief says 16,000 displaced in Syria's Aleppo

Members of the Civil Defence rescue children after an air strike in al-Shaar neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria June 2, 2014. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIRUT - Up to 16,000 people have been displaced in Syria's Aleppo by intense attacks on the rebel-held eastern part of the city, the United Nations humanitarian chief and relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien said on Tuesday, citing initial reports.

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 said in an emailed statement.