The House of Commons will hold a two-hour emergency debate on the desperate humanitarian situation in eastern Aleppo on Tuesday, the Speaker has confirmed.

Former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell called for the debate, arguing that east Aleppo “now resembles Stalingrad at the end of its destruction”.

Syrian regime forces are thought to be close to recapturing east Aleppo after months of siege and a recent heavy bombardment. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the country’s government now controls 90 per cent of the previously contested territory.

He cited the reported use of Sarin and chlorine bombs by Assad regime forces during the Syrian civil war, and said the Commons should consider “what in the name of humanity we the international community will do to save those two who are in such dreadful jeopardy”.

The debate will begin before any other public business takes place as “the first item of public business”. It was granted by the Speaker under Standing Order 24, which makes provisions for emergency discussions of topical issues.

Mr Mitchell asked: “I seek leave to propose that the House should debate a specific and important matter that should have leave for consideration – namely the need for immediate concerted international action to accurate from East Aleppo the remaining up to 40 doctors, 70 nursing staff and 500 children … along with thousands of terrified civilians caught between the various fighting groups in a ten by ten kilometre enclave where most of those trapped now are.”

In pictures: Aleppo bombing Show all 14 1 /14 In pictures: Aleppo bombing In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Smoke rises after airstrikes on the rebel-held al-Sakhour neighborhood of Aleppo, Syria April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family runs for cover amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of Al-Qatarji in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man reacts as he stands on blood stains at a site hit by airstrikes in the rebel held area of Aleppo's al-Fardous district, Syria, April 29, 2016. Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damage of the airstrikes in the rebel-held area of Aleppo on April 28 Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo The damaged the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)-backed al-Quds hospital after it was hit by airstrikes, in a rebel-held area of Syria's Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians evacuate an injured man amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following an air strike on a rebel-held of Aleppo on April 29, 2016. AFP/Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo People inspect the damage at a site hit by airstrikes, in the rebel-held area of Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A man leads a woman in tears and child out of the scene after airstrikes hit Aleppo AP In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Civil defence members search for survivors after an airstrike at a field hospital in the rebel held area of al-Sukari district of Aleppo Reuters In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian boy is comforted as he cries next to the body of a relative who died in a reported air strike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Soukour in the northern city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo A Syrian family walks amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a reported air strike in the Bustan al-Qasr rebel-held district of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers and rescuers remove a baby from under the rubble of a destroyed building following a reported air strike on the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Kalasa in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrians help a wounded youth following an air strike on the Fardous rebel held neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo Getty Images In pictures: Aleppo bombing Bombing in Aleppo Syrian civil defence volunteers evacuate people from a damaged building following a reported airstrike in the rebel-held neighbourhood of Tareeq al-Bab in the northern city of Aleppo

Noting that the issue had been discussed two months previously, he added: “I make no apology to the House for raising this vital issue again”.

The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, said: “I have listened carefully to the application by the Honourable gentleman and I am satisfied that the matter raised by him is proper to be discussed under Standing Order 24.”