More than 100 unaccompanied children are trapped in a building which is under heavy attack in eastern Aleppo, according to UNICEF.

Regional director of the UN children's agency, Geert Cappelaere, said: "According to alarming reports from a doctor in the city, many children, possibly more than 100, unaccompanied or separated from their families, are trapped in a building, under heavy attack in east Aleppo."

Image: Syrian residents fleeing the violence in Aleppo evacuate neighbourhoods in the Bab al-Hadid district Image: In the face of a blistering assault by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, the rebels retreated from all of Aleppo's Old City Image: Syrian government troops patrol the newly captured al-Sakhour neighbourhood in the eastern part of Aleppo Image: Rebels called for a five-day truce and the evacuation of civilians after losing more than three quarters of their territory Image: Men ride a tricycle as they flee deeper into the remaining rebel-held areas of Aleppo. Continue through for more pictures /

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Mr Cappelaere did not give details on the doctor or the location of the children but said it was "time for the world to stand up for the children of Aleppo and bring their living nightmare to an end".

His words came as pro-government forces continued their assault on Aleppo's few remaining rebel-held areas, trapping thousands of civilians.


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

The army said its troops and allied forces were 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".

There were also reports of pro-government forces being involved in what UNICEF described as "extrajudicial killings of civilians, including children".

Image: Aleppo then and now: Umayyad Mosque, 2013... Image: ... and the Umayyad Mosque in 2010 Image: The Old City seen from Aleppo's historic citadel, 2009 Image: An image taken with a drone shows the Old City of Aleppo and the citadel, 2016 Image: An antique shop in al Jdeideh neighbourhood, 2009 Image: Men salvage belongings from their damaged shops that were hit by airstrikes, 2016 Image: The Shahba Mall, one of the largest commercial shopping centres in Syria, 2009 Image: The mall after airstrikes by forces loyal to Assad in 2014. Continue through for more pictures of Aleppo before and after the destruction /

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The UN human rights office also said it had reports of the troops killing at least 82 civilians in the eastern part of Aleppo, including 11 women and 13 children, in four different neighbourhoods.

UNICEF called for a truce between the fighting parties and for civilians who wanted to leave the city to be allowed to do so "in safety and in dignity".