UN member states on Tuesday (November 15th) overwhelmingly condemned escalating attacks against civilians in Aleppo and called for a ceasefire to pave the way to a settlement of the five-year war in Syria, AFP reported.

A resolution drafted by Saudi Arabia was adopted by a vote of 116 to 15, with 49 abstentions, in the General Assembly's human rights committee.

Russia and Iran, Syria's allies, were among the 15 who voted against the measure, which is expected to go to the full assembly next month.

The UN rights committee has voted every year to condemn Syria over the human rights crisis since the war began in March 2011.

The resolution expresses outrage and grave concern at the violence in opposition-held east Aleppo and demands that humanitarian aid be delivered to all Syrians in need.

It deplores the attack on an aid convoy in rural Aleppo on September 19th and calls for the perpetrators to be held accountable.

Syria's regime and its allies launched a fresh assault on opposition strongholds on Tuesday as diplomatic efforts to end the war remained deadlocked.

The renewed bombardment has killed at least 20 people, including nine children, in Aleppo alone in the last 24 hours, as food aid runs low in the city, AFP reported Wednesday.