UN urges immediate ceasefire amid escalating violence in NW Syria 

Civilian Kurds from Afrin are in the open in Tabqa city after they fled the war in Aleppo northern countryside, Dec. 3, 2024 – North Press
Civilian Kurds from Afrin are in the open in Tabqa city after they fled the war in Aleppo northern countryside, Dec. 3, 2024 – North Press

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The United Nations called on Tuesday for an urgent cessation of hostilities in northwest Syria, citing significant concerns over escalating violence and its dire humanitarian consequences.  

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern about the intensifying conflict in northern Syria, urging an immediate end to the fighting.

His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, emphasized the need for all parties to prioritize civilian safety and uphold international humanitarian principles.

He said that all parties must take every possible measure to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including guaranteeing safe passage for those fleeing the violence, Dujarric stated.

Highlighting the worsening health crisis, he noted the alarming presence of unburied bodies and critical shortages of drinking water, exacerbating the region’s humanitarian plight.

Syria remains one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with 16.7 million people in need of assistance and over seven million internally displaced, Dujarric added.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 48,500 people were displaced as of Nov. 30.

The agency warned that the situation remains volatile, with displacement numbers rising daily as ongoing assessments uncover new data.