Syria: 900,000 displaced by violence in the northwest of the country

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The conflict in north-western Syria has reached "a horrifying level" and has caused the flight of 900,000 people since the start of the regime's offensive in December, the UN denounced on Monday.

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" We now believe that 900,000 people have been displaced since December 1, the vast majority of them women and children, " said UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, in a statement. The previous assessment communicated last Thursday by the UN was 800,000 displaced.

“ They are traumatized and forced to sleep outside in freezing temperatures because the refugee camps are full. Mothers burn plastic to warm the children. Babies and young children die from the cold, ”said Mark Lowcock.

The NW Syria crisis has reached a horrifying new level: 900,000 ppl have been displaced since 1 December

The 21st century's biggest humanitarian horror story will only be avoided if the Security-Council and those with influence, act: https://t.co/6aYmw6BKFS

The places of the displaced persons targeted

An offensive was launched by the Syrian regime in December, with the support of Moscow , against the ultimate great jihadist and rebel stronghold of Syria, the Idleb region and surrounding areas.

" The violence in northwest Syria is blind, " said Mark Lowcock, who called for a ceasefire, "he said it was the only option ". " We are receiving reports that the locations of the displaced are now targeted, causing deaths, injuries and further leaks ."

" The aid workers themselves are displaced and killed, " added Mark Lowcock, saying that a " huge rescue operation " was under way from Turkey, but was overwhelmed by the scale of the tragedy. " The greatest humanitarian tragedy of the twenty-first century will be avoided only if the members of the Security Council (...) exceed their individual interests ," he called.

Triggered in March 2011 with the suppression of peaceful demonstrations, the war in Syria has killed more than 380,000 people.

►Syria: fierce fighting and progression of the forces of the regime in Idleb

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