A FORMER resident of Aleppo who now lives in Oxford has thanked people for their support following atrocities in his hometown.

Vickas Baker, who runs Vic’s Dry Cleaners in Cowley Road, said he was heartbroken by what was happening in the Syrian city.

At the start of the week, government troops entered eastern Aleppo as they moved to defeat rebels, with reports of summary executions of women and children following.

On Tuesday night about 30 people held a vigil in solidarity in Cornmarket Street.

Mr Baker said: “Oxford’s people have shown solidarity for what is going on there, but the world’s governments are just sitting back.

“It is unbelievable.

“I really do not know what to say anymore. No matter what I say it will not be enough to sum up what is going on there.

“It was one of the most beautiful cities in Syria and it has been destroyed.

“I would really love to thank the people of Oxford giving their love to Aleppo.”

The hastily organised vigil on Tuesday was called to draw attention to the situation and to demand an immediate ceasefire.

Oxford Solidarity for Syria spokesman Peter Hill said: “As the humanitarian chief of the UN warned a fortnight ago, Aleppo is now becoming ‘one giant graveyard’.

“Parliament is currently debating its response to events and protests are also being held outside 10 Downing Street.

“This is in addition to many other protests across the world.

“Assad and his Russian backers may be winning the military war but we can and must bear witness to the atrocities and express our solidarity with victims, who represent the last vestiges of the Syrian revolution.”

Oxford University student Amelia Cooper said: “It is not just about the past 48 hours. 

“It has been a constant siege that we have known about for a long time.

“A Facebook status is not enough.”