U.N. calls for 48 hour ceasefires to aid besieged Syrian zones

Special advisor to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Jan Egeland addresses a news conference after a meeting of the Task Force for Humanitarian Access at the U.N. in Geneva, Switzerland, March 17, 2016. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations called on Thursday for Syria's warring sides to observe 48-hour local truces to let aid reach eastern Aleppo and other besieged zones where civilians may be starving.

Jan Egeland, humanitarian advisor to U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, said an escalation in fighting was stopping aid from getting through in many areas.