UN warns of escalating the hostilities in north-west Syria

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affaires (OCHA) warned of the consequences of hostilities in north-west Syria, expressing its concern over these actions.

OCHA confirmed that the hostilities could jeopardize the missions carried out by UN’s staff across the border.

The Associate Spokesperson for the UN Secretary General, Florencia Soto Nino, said in a press conference on January, 2, 2024 that: “The UN carried out more than 300 cross-border missions the last year to meet with affected people, monitor the aid programs, and conduct needs assessments.”

Soto Nino added that since last October 5, 2023, more than 100 people have been killed, nearly 40% of them are children, due to bombardment and other acts of violence in north-west Syria, while more than 400 others have been injured.

Soto Nino added that the shelling on residential neighborhoods in Idleb and west Aleppo since the beginning of this week has led to the killing of at least 7 civilians, including a teenager and 100-year-old man, according to the local medical authorities.

Soto Nino made it clear that 9 out of 30 people, who were injuried due to the shelling, were children, including a two-month-old infant, in addition to damaging at least 2 schools in north-west Aleppo.

OCHA confirmed that the United Nations and its partners continue to monitor the situation and respond to humanitarian needs through providing support to health facilities, which are subjected to additional pressure due to the increase in respiratory diseases and other challenges associated with the winter.

Since the beginning of the year 2023 until the 24th of last December, the Syrian Civil Defence documented more than 1276 attacks on north-west Syria by Assad regime forces, Russia, and militias loyal to them, killing 160 people, including 46 children and 23 women, and injuring 688 people, including 218 children and 96 women.