Residents and aid workers trapped in Aleppo are describing desperate conditions and a "complete meltdown of humanity" as the Syrian army is about to regain full control of the city.

President Bashar al Assad's forces, backed by Russia, have recaptured large swathes of the city in recent days and, according to state TV, it now holds 98% of neighbourhoods previously occupied by rebels.

City's uprising 'about to be snuffed out'

The UN rights office cited reports of Syria's pro-government forces killing at least 82 civilians in rebel-held eastern Aleppo.

A spokesman spoke of a "complete meltdown of humanity" in the city.

Image: Between 10,000 and 13,000 civilians are believed to have fled from eastern Aleppo since Monday

A Syrian military source said government forces and their allies are in the "last moments before declaring victory", while the head of the government's Aleppo security committee warned rebels they "either have to surrender or die".


Lieutenant General Zaid al-Saleh added: "The battle in eastern Aleppo should end quickly. They (rebels) don't have much time."

Residents sent texts, tweets and videos to make dramatic appeals for help or say goodbye, as they said they feared they would die or be arrested by government troops.

Image: Devastation in Aleppo captured by a Syrian government drone

Abdulkafi Alhamdo, a teacher turned activist, posted a "last call" video on Monday, calling the crisis in the city "the most horrible massacre … in our history."

With rain in the background, Mr Alhamdo struggled to fight back tears as he described the devastation.

"Just yesterday, next door all the building collapsed and many people were killed," he said.

"You might not understand what we are suffering here."

"We wanted freedom, we didn't want anything else but freedom.

"I hope that something can be done and that we can leave and that we can speak together once more … I hope you can remember us."

Image: Fighters of the Free Syrian Army fire an anti-aircraft weapon

Another resident, Monther Etaky, told Sky News that life in the city "is like hell".

He said thousands of people were on the streets looking for shelter and Syrian regime attacks had destroyed the main store for flour.

"The city is starving, there is no bread in the besieged area, and there is one hospital left," he said.

The White Helmets civil defence organisation and three other aid groups asked the international community to arrange safe passage for 100,000 civilians across a 4km (2.5-mile) stretch of government-held territory.

"If we stay, we fear for our lives. The women may be taken to camps, the men disappeared and anyone who is known to have supported civilians will face detention or execution," they said in a statement.

The group sent harrowing tweets over the last hours to describe the situation inside the besieged city, which has been divided since 2012.

There is no total number of casualties in Besieged #Aleppo today, all streets & destroyed buildings are full with dead bodies. It's hell. — The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) December 13, 2016

+100,000 civilians are packed into a tiny area. Bombing + shelling relentless. Casualties unimaginable. Bodies lie where they fell. — The White Helmets (@SyriaCivilDef) December 13, 2016

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has voiced alarm over reports of atrocities against "a large number" of civilians and urged combatants to protect the city's residents.

Mr Ban's spokesperson said: "While stressing that the United Nations is not able to independently verify these reports, the secretary-general is conveying his grave concern to the relevant parties.

"The United Nations underlines the obligation of all parties on the ground to protect civilians and abide by international humanitarian and human rights law."

Syria TV shows Aleppo celebrations

He added that this was "particularly the responsibility" of the Syrian government and Russia, which is backing Bashar al Assad's regime.

Mr Ban's plea came as Jan Egeland, UN humanitarian adviser on Syria, said Damascus and Moscow "are accountable for any and all atrocities that the victorious militias in Aleppo are now committing".

Between 10,000 and 13,000 civilians have fled from eastern Aleppo since Monday, bringing the total number to have escaped the fighting there to an estimated 130,000, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

According to the Russian defence ministry, 100,000 civilians are left in the eastern part of the city.

Aleppo: Killing Hope - A Sky News special report

While Aleppo's fall would deal a stunning blow to rebels, Mr Assad would still be far from restoring control across Syria. Swathes of the country remain in rebel hands, and Islamic State retook Palmyra on Sunday.