"It could be next week… Next week is realistic," Egeland said, answering the question when the next humanitarian pause could start in Aleppo.
"And we are still waiting now, today for Russian and Syrian government green light… for humanitarian plan for East Aleppo, " he stated, adding that the armed opposition groups have already given the general approval to UN humanitarian plan.
UN expects to receive consent from Russia and Syria on a humanitarian pause in Aleppo by November 24, the consent of the armed opposition has already been received, Egeland told Sputnik.
"We are eagerly awaiting an answer back from Moscow and Damascus and we hope to have it at the latest in ISSG [International Syria Support Group task groups] meeting on Thursday."
The UN official added that the UN was waiting for Russia's "green light" for the humanitarian operation in East Aleppo.
Egeland said that the UN has already received consent for humanitarian operations in eastern Aleppo by armed opposition groups in the area, but the number of people in need of evacuation needs to be re-assessed.
"They have now given the general approval to the UN plan in its entirety, including evacuations. And we have to identify once again the number of people to evacuate. Previously it was between 200 and 300. How many it will be this time I do not yet know. We have to have an assessment," he added.
According to him, the UN has discussed, in particular ceasing attacks on hospitals in the east and in the west of Aleppo, as well as the delivery of medicine and allowing "medical personnel to fill the gaps in hospitals."
