Politics
22:26, 10-Sep-2018
UN: More than 30,000 displaced in Syria's Idlib in latest offensive
Updated
21:26, 13-Sep-2018
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More than 30,000 people have been displaced within rebel-held northwest Syria by bombardment by Syrian government and allied forces which began last week, a United Nations official said on Monday.
"As of September 9, 30,542 people have been displaced from northwest Syria, moving to different areas across Idlib," David Swanson, spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said.
A woman who fled her village in Syria's Idlib province carries a child at a camp in Kafr Lusin near the border with Turkey, on September 9, 2018. /VCG Photo
A woman who fled her village in Syria's Idlib province carries a child at a camp in Kafr Lusin near the border with Turkey, on September 9, 2018. /VCG Photo
Damascus, backed by allies Russia and Iran, has been preparing a major assault to recover Idlib and adjacent areas of northwest Syria from rebels.
The area is Syria's last major stronghold of active opposition to the rule of President Bashar al-Assad.
About three million people live in the opposition-held area, which comprises most of Idlib province and adjacent small parts of Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces.
Swanson said that since Friday mortar and rocket attacks had increased, especially in the northern Hama countryside and southern Idlib rural areas.
He said 47 percent of those displaced have moved to camps, 29 percent are staying with families, 14 percent have settled in informal camps and 10 percent are in rented accommodation.
Source(s): Reuters