Syria conflict: UN says water and power cuts threaten two million Published duration 9 August 2016

media caption Amateur footage purports to show rebel factions advancing towards Aleppo

Children in the Syrian city of Aleppo are at "grave risk" of disease unless water supplies are immediately repaired, the UN children's agency says.

The United Nations says an immediate pause in fighting is needed to allow the water and electricity networks to be fixed.

Some two million people are without vital supplies, the UN says.

Fighting between government forces and rebels has intensified in recent weeks.

At least 250,000 people are believed to have been trapped in rebel-held areas of eastern Aleppo since a key route into the area was closed by government forces in early July.

On Sunday, rebels cut off the government's key access route into western Aleppo.

They have since come under intense air bombardment from pro-government forces.

media caption One of the few doctors remaining in Aleppo reveals how medics and civilians face death in the city on daily basis.

Unicef said the whole city had been without running water for four days.

"Children and families in Aleppo are facing a catastrophic situation," said Hanaa Singer, Unicef's representative in Syria.

"These cuts are coming amid a heatwave, putting children at a grave risk of waterborne diseases. Getting clean water running again cannot wait for the fighting to stop. Children's lives are in serious danger."

Temperatures have hit 40C (104F) in the city this week.

The UN echoed Unicef's concerns, and said only a full-fledged ceasefire or weekly 48-hour humanitarian pauses would enable them to reach everyone in need and replenish the "dangerously low" food and medicine stocks.

"The targeting of hospitals and clinics continues unabated, seriously jeopardising the health and welfare of all citizens of Aleppo," said Yacoub el-Hillo, UN Resident and Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Syria, and Kevin Kennedy, Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis.

Aleppo was once Syria's commercial capital and also boasted a rich architectural and archaeological heritage.