Russia has announced it is willing to extend a ceasefire in the Syrian city of Aleppo.
Authorities had enforced a three-hour truce to allow aid into the besieged area - that will now be extended to 48 hours following a plea from the United Nations.
Aid workers are warning that two million people the city have nowhere to hide from bombings.
Quoted by Reuters, the office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura welcome Russia's commitment and said the UN humanitarian team "is now set to mobilize itself to respond to this challenge".
The statement added that "our plan is to collectively work out the operational details, and be ready for delivery as soon as possible".
It comes as the UN marks World Humanitarian Day and President Michael D Higgins says Ireland should be proud of our strong track record of supporting victims of conflict.
Trocaire Chief Executive Eamon Meehan says it is important we take time out today to remember them.
"More than 90% of humanitarian workers actually come from the countries where those disasters are happening," he explained.
"I'm particularly thinking at the moment of health workers in Syria, in Aleppo for instance, who are facing constant bombardment on a daily basis," he added.
Humanitarian agencies have said the fight for Aleppo is 'one of the most devastating in modern times'.
The city has been the subject of a bitter fight between various rebel forces and Russian-backed government forces.
Earlier this month, insurgents broke a weeks-long government siege in eastern Aleppo, where an estimated 250,000 people are believed to have been trapped.
