Syria: humanitarian crisis is "major" in Idleb according to the UN

Text by: RFI Follow

The situation in the Idleb region is deteriorating further with the fighting between regime forces, rebels and the Turkish army. Bombings killed at least 9 civilians on Tuesday March 3 in Idleb. A United Nations mission was on site to assess humanitarian needs.

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A few hours on site were enough to confirm the feeling of urgency. Monday March 2, accompanied by representatives of 6 UN agencies, including UNHCR, WHO and UNICEF, Kevin Kennedy visited the Idleb region.

Worst humanitarian crisis in the world

And the United Nations regional coordinator for Syria cannot hide his concern: “ We are facing a huge and major humanitarian crisis, probably the worst in the world today. There are almost 3 million people stranded in the Idleb region and among these populations, 1 million have had to flee and move to safer areas of the province . ”

According to the United Nations, 6,000 NGO members are currently deployed there, but at least 2,000 more are needed. Kevin Kennedy's recommendations will be submitted to the United Nations General Secretariat, which could decide to establish a UN presence in northwestern Syria.

An open war situation

But UN efforts remain suspended at the whim of the belligerents, whether Damascus and its allies, rebel and jihadist groups, but also Turkey, now a fighting force in Syria.

The Turkish Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday the death of two new soldiers in regime fire, bringing the loss to Idleb to nearly 40 since last week. Turkey, which shot down a regime plane Tuesday, the third since Sunday, has increased in recent days drone strikes on Wednesday killing nine pro-regime fighters the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The future of populations is very vague, in the short as in the long term. According to a Harvard Humanitarian Initiative study in several areas of the province, a third of homes and infrastructure has been destroyed, making return difficult.

►Also listen: Mid-day guest - Humanitarian crisis in Idleb: “hospitals are deliberately targeted”

Since last December, nearly a million people have been displaced by conflict in NW Syria.

In January & February, 2,150+ trucks carrying aid crossed from Turkey into NW Syria.

People are traumatized and frightened. The violence must stop. pic.twitter.com/nH4Ie11vq7

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• Syria
• UN
• NGO
• Humanitarian

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