Bracing for disaster
Planned offensive on Syrian city Idlib could spark worst humanitarian emergency.
NEW YORK: The UN director of humanitarian operations warned that a large-scale Syrian government offensive in the last major rebel stronghold in northern Idlib province “has the potential to create a humanitarian emergency at a scale not yet seen” in the seven-year civil war.
John Ging called on members of the UN Security Council on Tuesday “to do all they can to ensure we avoid this”.
The Syrian government is gearing up for an expected offensive in Idlib province, which is home to nearly three million people and has a large al-Qaeda presence in addition to Syrian rebel groups. It borders Turkey, which fears an offensive may trigger a humanitarian and security catastrophe.
Ging said recent weeks have seen “a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation” with intense bombing and shelling reported in parts of Idlib as well as Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces resulting in civilian deaths and destruction of schools and hospitals.
He said humanitarian organisations are trying to sustain their current response and prepare for a possible further deterioration, “but a worst-case scenario in Idlib will overwhelm capacities and has the potential to create a humanitarian emergency at a scale not yet seen through this crisis”.
The United States, Britain and France have warned that they will respond “appropriately” to any chemical weapons attack in Idlib – a warning repeated to council members on Tuesday.
Russia again accused Syrian rebels of preparing a chemical attack, which Moscow says the West will use to justify a strike against Syrian forces.
Russia also claims British special forces are helping the rebels, including supplying chlorine, allegations vehemently denied by Britain’s UN Ambassador Karen Pierce who called them “baseless”.
“Having heard their case,” Pierce said after the council meeting, “it’s very clear to us and our partners that this is an effort to distract from an imminent attack on Idlib”. — AP