UN officials raise alarm over escalating violence in northwest Syria – World Issues

The alarm comes amid a sharp escalation of fighting in Aleppo Governorate, spreading to parts of Idleb and Hama provinces and leaving the situation volatile and unpredictable.

In a statement on Sunday, the UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir O. Pedersen expressed deep concern about the dramatic changes on the front lines, including the development of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a terrorist group designated by the Security Council, and the intensification of government airstrikes.

“In a country wracked by nearly 14 years of war and conflict, recent events pose a serious threat to civilians and have serious implications for regional and international peace and security.,” he said.

He emphasized the urgent need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, calling on all parties to respect international law.

“What we are seeing in Syria today is a sign of a collective failure to deliver what has been clearly needed for many years now – a real political process to implement Security Council resolution 2254 (2015),” Mr Pedersen said.

The humanitarian crisis is growing

Meanwhile, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria Adam Abdelmoula emphasized the critical humanitarian situation in Aleppo, where the violence since November 27 has claimed the lives of people, including women and children, displaced families, and disrupted essential services.

Describing the situation as “painful”, he called on all parties to the conflict to immediately cease hostilities and prioritize the protection of civilians, including the safety of aid workers.

“The Syrian people must not endure more suffering, and we urge that dialogue be given a chance,” he said.

Thousands are fleeing the violence

According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the violence in Aleppo has forced thousands to flee, most of them seeking refuge in unsafe open areas. The key M-5 Damascus-Aleppo Highway is inaccessible between Saraqab City (Idleb) and Aleppo.

A curfew was imposed in Aleppo City on Friday and Saturday, and all public institutions, including universities and schools, were suspended. Hospitals are said to be full of injured people, while banks and ATMs are running out of money.

“This latest escalation of the war comes at a time when a large number of people, most of whom have endured the trauma of displacement, now they are forced to flee again, leaving their homes and livelihoods behind,” said Mr. Abdelmoula.

He also highlighted the severity of the long-running crisis, noting that before the influx of more than half a million people returning from Lebanon since September, more than 16.7 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance.

“This latest violence adds to the many lives that now need to be saved urgently,” he said.