UN Expresses "alarm" Over Military Escalation In Syria

UN expresses "alarm" over military escalation in Syria

GENEVA, (Pakistan Point News - 07th May, 2019) The United Nations has expressed its "alarm" over recent military escalation in Syria's Hama and Idlib provinces.

In a statement, the Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Syria, Ravina Shamdasani, said, "We are alarmed that the military escalation in northern Hama and southern Idlib provinces in Syria since 29th April has placed in serious danger hundreds of thousands of displaced people who have been surviving there for years."

She went on to note that those fleeing the hostilities are at high risk and continue to face "serious protection concerns" along the way.

The intensification of the violence has already taken a heavy toll on civilians, Shamdasani added.

According to information gathered by the UN Human Rights Office, at least 27 civilians have been killed and 31 injured since 29th April including many women and children. A series of ground-based attacks and airstrikes have been recorded to have been carried out against civilian infrastructure, such as schools and hospitals, causing severe damage.

"We call on all parties to the conflict to respect the international humanitarian law principles of distinction, precaution and proportionality and to ensure the full protection of civilian objects," the spokesperson affirmed.