A file image of a resident driving past cars and buildings in northwest Syria. Photo: UNOCHA / Ali Haj Suleiman
An explosion in fighting in Syria is creating a growing humanitarian crisis and a threat to regional stability, the UN warns.
And the US, France, Germany, and UK are keeping a close eye.
The UN warning comes amid a sharp escalation in fighting in and around Aleppo as well as in parts of the Idleb and Hama provinces.
Syrian rebels have reportedly taken control of most of Aleppo and scores of nearby towns, overseas media reports say.
The death toll from the fighting is stands at least 327, 44 of them civilians.
“We are closely monitoring developments in Syria and urge de-escalation by all parties and the protection of civilians and infrastructure to prevent further displacement and disruption of humanitarian access,” a brief US State Department statement said.
“The current escalation only underscores the urgent need for a Syrian-led political solution to the conflict ….”
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen expressed grave concerns over the dramatic shift in frontlines, including advances by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (a UN-designated terrorist group) and intensified airstrikes.
“In a country torn by nearly 14 years of war and conflict, the latest developments pose severe risks to civilians and have serious implications for regional and international peace and security,” he said.
He stressed the urgent need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, calling on all parties to uphold international law.
UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula underscored the dire crisis in Aleppo where violence since November 27 has killed civilians, displaced families and disrupted services.
“The people of Syria must not endure more suffering, and we urge dialogue to be given an opportunity,” he said.
According to the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the violence in Aleppo forced thousands to flee. The key M-5 Damascus-Aleppo Highway is inaccessible between Saraqab City (Idleb) and Aleppo.
Curfews were imposed in Aleppo City on Friday and Saturday, and all public facilities have been suspended. Hospitals are said to be overwhelmed with injured individuals, while banks and automated teller machines (ATMs) are running out of cash.
“This recent escalation of hostilities is coming at a time when countless people, many of whom have already endured the trauma of displacement, are now forced to flee once more, leaving behind their homes and livelihoods,” Abdelmoula said.
He also highlighted the severity of the crisis; he noted that before an influx of more than half a million returnees and refugees from Lebanon since September, over 16.7 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance.
