The Syrian Coalition called on the United Nations to provide all kinds of relief aid and protection for civilians fleeing the intensifying fighting in Deir Ezzor as it stressed the right of the people of the province to liberate their towns and villages and administrate their areas in the province.
The calls came at the conclusion of a workshop held by the Coalition in the Turkish city of Sanliurfa on Sunday and Monday (15-16 October) with leaders and representatives of military and civic bodies in the province of Deir Ezzor.
Participants in the workshop were divided into three committees on political affairs and civil administration, military affairs, and relief work. They put forward a set of proposals and suggestions to address the situation of civilians fleeing the province.
Participants called for sparing the lives of civilians fleeing the fighting in Deir Ezzor province as they stressed that the United States and Russia bear full responsibility for their safety.
Moreover, participants in the workshop urged the United States, France, and the United Kingdom to make urgent visits to the camps housing civilians fleeing Deir Ezzor. The camps were dubbed ‘The Camps of Death” in view of the tragic living conditions inside. Representatives from the three countries had previously visited the areas under the control of the militias of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) where these camps were erected.
Participants also called for the opening of safe humanitarian corridors for civilians who are caught in the middle of battles being fought by Russian-backed regime forces and the US-backed SDF militias against ISIS in the province.
Participants in the workshop suggested setting up a zone in Syria’s north bringing together rebel groups of Deir Ezzor to follow up on the process of organizing these groups and incorporate them in one national army. They stressed the right of the people of the province to liberate the province as they condemned the continued killings of civilians in the province.
They also suggested the establishment of a unified operations room comprising all rebel groups of Deir Ezzor and that the Coalition and the Syrian Interim Government support the room. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)