‘50K have fled east Aleppo as army advances’

Over 50,000 people have fled rebel-held east Aleppo in the last four days as government forces advance, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Britain-based monitor said over 20,000 people had fled to western neighbourhoods of the city held by the government, with another 30,000 moving to areas held by Kurdish forces. Syrian troops have seized at least a third of eastern Aleppo since renewing their bid to recapture all of the city just over two weeks ago. The former rebel stronghold has been under a government siege for over four months.