Aleppo battle: Thousands trapped in violence

Syrian residents arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood after fleeing the violence of Bustan al-Qasr, 13 December 2016 — Image caption,
Families have been fleeing the violence of the Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood of Aleppo after government troops took back control of the area from rebel fighters.

Syrian residents leave Aleppo's Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood after pro-government forces captured the area in the eastern part of the war torn city on December 13, 2016. After weeks of heavy fighting, regime forces were poised to take full control of Aleppo, dealing the biggest blow to Syria's rebellion in more than five years of civil war.

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Many parts of eastern Aleppo have been reduced to rubble, with families becoming separated. A number of children have also become trapped in buildings, according to Unicef.

A Syrian pro-regime fighter speaks with a child in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood, as residents flee violence in Bustan al-Qasr, 13 December 2016

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A member of the Syrian pro-government forces speaks with a child in the Fardos neighbourhood of eastern Aleppo, which earlier suffered intense attacks, after fleeing violence in Bustan al-Qasr.

Syrian pro-government troops gesture as residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood, 13 December 2016, after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters. Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

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Syrian troops gesture to families arriving in Fardos. Rebels withdrew from six other neighbourhoods in east Aleppo, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

A Syrian woman arrives in Aleppo's Fardos with her children in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters, 13 December 2016

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A Syrian woman arrives in Fardos with her children. Thousands of people were reportedly trapped in the last remaining neighbourhoods that were still in rebel hands.

Residents flee east Aleppo as government forces push into rebel-held areas, 12 December 2016. Syria's military said Monday it has regained control of 98% of eastern Aleppo.

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Some residents have managed to leave the areas facing intense bombardment

Syrian pro-government forces in Aleppo's newly captured Al-Kalasseh neighbourhood in the eastern part of the war torn city, 13 December 2016

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Streets in the areas of eastern Aleppo that have been recaptured by Syrian government troops, such as al-Kalasseh, are barely recognisable.

Syrian pro-government troops walk through the streets with civilians in eastern Aleppo, Syria, 12 December 2016

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The UN reported that residents in parts of Aleppo were unable to retrieve the bodies of family members due to the intense bombardment by Syrian pro-government forces.

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