ROME - The Community of Sant'Egidio welcomes the announcement of the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, on a possible and imminent six-week truce for the war going on in the city of Aleppo and appeals to all those responsible for the crisis so that a real cessation of the fighting may be reached as soon as possible.

If the initiative to protect civilians, which seems to have already met the availability of the Damascus government, is welcomed by all forces present in that area, this will represent a major step forward in the implementation of the appeal "Save Aleppo", launched on last 22 June by Andrea Riccardi to finally bring relief to the population of this city, who have been victims of clashes over two years.

"Save Aleppo – as read in the appeal of the founder of the Community of Sant'Egidio - is worth more than a statement by one single party on the field! Humanitarian corridors and supplies for civilians must be prepared". In the belief that "peace must be imposed in the name of those that suffer" and a future must be rebuilt for this city, a historical crossroads for so many peoples and a place of millennial coexistence between Muslims and Christians.