UNOCHA Spokesman: developments in Idlib raise our concerns
Washington DC – North-Press Agency
Hadeel Oueis
David Swanson, the spokesman of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), said that the humanitarian situation in Syria is still deteriorating after eight years of war, where the United Nations is concerned about the fate of more than 1.4 million civilians, whom it considers as prisoners, in the midst of conflict between various parties.
Swanson told North-Press that the complicated situation on the ground in northwestern Syria, makes the arrival of UN rapporteurs in Syria an impossible thing, and makes them vulnerable to be targeted, so “the organization relies on more than 15,000 Syrian assistants on the ground to deliver humanitarian aid and meet the needs of civilians. “
“The UN is concerned about widespread arrests of civilian and enforced disappearance imposed by the Syrian government in the inhabited areas of Idlib,” Swanson added.
While Syrian government forces continue the combing operations in the southern countryside of Idlib and northern Hama, amid escalation in the de-escalation zones along with a Turkish mobilization to establish a new observation point, after the advance of Syrian government forces towards the strategic city of Khan Shaykhun.
East of Euphrates
Moreover, Swanson said the situation in eastern Euphrates also raises UN fears, especially in light of talks on a claimed attack on liberated areas from terrorist organizations and still include detention centers, such as Al-Hawl Camp, which UN staff usually have access to, and deliver humanitarian aid needs to the camp’s residents.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has mounted threats regarding launching a military assault in eastern Euphrates, following lengthy meetings held by US special envoy to Syria James Jeffrey with Turkish officials.