The United Nations on Thursday said that repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure in the provinces of Idlib and rural Hama have left more than 240,000 people displaced from their homes since the beginning of April. It noted that the attacks have displaced more than 201,000 people in just a little more than the first two weeks of this month.
Citing the repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure and the increased level of displacement, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said: “The UN remains deeply alarmed by ongoing reports of airstrikes, artillery shelling and clashes in and around the de-escalation zone in northwestern Syria.”
The attacks have killed more than 100 people since late April, the spokesman told correspondents at a regular briefing.
“The world organization continues to call on the parties to respect obligations under the International Humanitarian Law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to recommit fully to the ceasefire arrangements agreed between Russia and Turkey in September,” Dujarric said.
Earlier this week, Amnesty International condemned attacks by the Assad regime forces on hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the provinces of Idlib and Hama, stressing that attacks targeting the civilian population constituted crimes against humanity.
The Syrian Coalition condemned the ongoing onslaught on the liberated areas as it called on the UN Security Council to take a clear, firm stance towards the grave military operations in Idlib and rural Hama. It warned that the bombing campaign would have a negative impact on the political process and the humanitarian conditions in the region.
Since April 26, the Assad regime and Russian air forces and the Iranian militias have launched a large-scale offensive to recapture the liberated areas in rural Hama and Idlib province. The region has been coming under ruthless aerial and artillery bombardment although it is covered by the de-escalation zone agreement. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
