United Nations envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura suspended the humanitarian task force into the country's besieged areas, citing continued violence and a lack of progress on bringing aid into desperate parts of the country.

De Mistura reiterated his call for a 48-hour pause in the fighting, notably in the northern city of Aleppo, to help allow for deliveries and asked for a "gesture of humanity from both sides."

The envoy said he plans to reconvene the humanitarian task force next week and believes the task force's co-chairs — Russia and the United States — still want a nonmilitary solution to Syria's conflict.