Children dying in cold as Syrians flee conflict
Hundreds of thousands of people fleeing a Russian-backed Syrian offensive are being squeezed into ever smaller areas near Turkey’s border “under horrendous conditions” in freezing temperatures that are killing babies and young children, the UN humanitarian chief said yesterday.
Mark Lowcock told the UN Security Council that “the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe” in northwest Idlib province, which is the last major rebel stronghold, has “overwhelmed” efforts to provide aid.
He said nearly 900,000 people have been displaced since December 1 when the government offensive began, more than 500,000 of them children.
“Many are on foot or on the backs of trucks in below-freezing temperatures, in the rain and snow,” Lowcock said. “They are moving into increasingly crowded areas they think will be safer. But in Idlib, nowhere is safe.”
Lowcock, the undersecretarygeneral for humanitarian affairs, said almost 50,000 people have taken shelter under trees and in open spaces. “I am getting daily reports of babies and other young children dying in the cold,” he said.
The United States, United Kingdom, Germany and others stressed that three-way talks with Syria supporters Russia and Iran and opposition backer Turkey, which led to a de-escalation zone in Idlib, aren’t working.
German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen said the UN should step in and “it’s time also for the secretarygeneral also to step up to the plate”.
Heusgen also urged Russia to stop supporting Syria. “If you tell the Syrians that there is no longer military support to the Syrian regime, they will have to stop the onslaught on their own population.”
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia responded: “We will not stop supporting the legitimate government of Syria which is conducting a legitimate fight against international
terrorism.”