More than 5,000 Danes are today planning to join a peaceful demonstration in support of civilian victims in the heavily-bombarded Syrian city of Aleppo.

The event is hosted by the Danish humanitarian organisation Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke (MS) and will take place from 19:00 in Copenhagen outside Christiansborg.

The organisers will give out 200 torches and peace flags, but encourage participants to bring their own candles as well.

Haifa Awaad, a Syrian human rights activist, Nagieb Khaja, a journalist and documentary director, and Mogens Lykketoft, the former president of the UN General Assembly, will give speeches at the event, while Danish rappers Shaka Loveless and Isam B will perform songs.

“A large part of Aleppo’s population, especially in the east, has since July had no supplies of food, water and medicine, which they have a great need for,” said Helle Munk Ravnborg, the chair of MS.

“So, it is essential the international community responds to UN’s appeals and ensures these supplies arrive.”

Once the commercial capital of Syria, Aleppo has been divided between the rebels in the east and the government’s forces in the west since violence erupted in the city in 2012.

It has been estimated that about 270,000 people live trapped in siege conditions inside the rebel-held part of the city.

Updates about the event are available on the official Facebook site.