United Nations: Satellite imagery shows the destruction of entire towns in Idlib and Hama

The United Nations has expressed serious concerns about the recent military escalation in northwestern Syria, where satellite images show towns and villages have been completely destroyed as their people already fled.

The Secretary-General spokesman Stefan Dujarric said in the daily press conference on Wednesday that clashes, shells and aerial bombardment, including the use of barrel bombs continue in Idlib, western Aleppo and northern Hama.

Stephan added that schools, hospitals and other civil infrastructure were totally destroyed while human operations were undermined, explaining that satellite imagery showed towns and villages were completely destroyed as communities fled.

According to UN statistics, more than 550 people were killed, and about 400,000 were displaced, many of them have been displaced several times, while nearly half of the displaced people are outside IDP camps or sheltering centers, they have taken refuge at the agricultural fields since the beginning of the military operations in April, this year.

The spokesman added that women and children represent about 75% of the total 3 million people affected by these military developments, explaining that reports indicate of increased humanitarian needs, particularly regarding shelter, food, and non-food items.

The United Nations continues to call upon all conflicting parties to do their utmost to ensure the safety and well-being of the civilians during the military operations, and to strictly follow the principles of the international law of differentiating between civilian and military objectives and the proportionality of operations.