UN calls for immediate ceasefire in earthquake-affected Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The United Nations Human Rights office called on Friday for the implementation of immediate ceasefire across Syria and delivering urgent assistance to all people affected by the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey on Feb. 6.
UN Human Rights Chief, Volker turk, in a tweet, called for implementing immediate ceasefire in Syria “and full respect of #humanrights & humanitarian law obligations so help can reach everyone.”
Since Feb. 6, aftershocks following the devastating earthquakes that struck the two countries have been felt across Syria.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake killed thousands and injured many more. The earthquake also caused immense destruction of buildings, trapping thousands under the rubble.
The day followed the catastrophic earthquake, Turkish forces shelled vicinity of the town of Tel Rifaat in Aleppo northern countryside, causing material damage to houses of the residents.
The town of Tel Rifaat, 35 km north of Aleppo city, has been a shelter for Afrin displaced people since 2018 following the Turkish invasion of Afrin and its countryside which resulted in the displacement of about 300.000 of the original inhabitants.
There are 1.662 displaced families from Afrin and 35 displaced families from Idlib live in Tel Rifaat, according to statistics carried out by Autonomous Administration of Afrin, which is currently operating in the northern countryside of Aleppo.
There are also 630 families that include about 3.000 people of original residents in the town, according to the same source.
Turk added, “At this terrible time in #Türkiye & #Syria, we call for urgent delivery of assistance to ALL in need.”
The call came as hope for rescuing survivors from under the rubbles becomes lesser and lesser and the UN realizes that conflicting political and military parties are hindering the arrival of life-saving aid to the earthquake-affected people in Syria.
The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, said on Feb. 9 Syrians affected by the earthquake that hit Syria and Turkey on Feb. 6 need “more of absolutely everything” in terms of aid away from politics.
On the same day Abd Hamed al-Mehbash, Co-chair of the Executive Council the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) said other Syrian parties were hindering the arrival of aid the AANES has prepared to be sent to the areas hit by the earthquakes.