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UN: Civilian Deaths Surge in Escalating Syrian Conflicts

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - U.N. monitors report scores of civilians are
   being killed and wounded, and thousands are fleeing their homes as
   violence and human rights abuse escalate in northern and northeastern
   Syria.

   In just the last five days, at least 92 civilians have been killed in
   these two separate battles. The U.N. human rights office reports most
   of the deaths have occurred in Syria's northeastern Kurdish-controlled
   area, which is under assault by the Turkish military.

   It says 49 people have been victims of airstrikes, ground-based strikes
   and summary executions. These have been carried out by opposing
   Turkish-affiliated armed groups and Kurdish armed groups. It says
   another 31 civilians have been killed by roadside bombs in populated
   areas, most likely planted by groups opposing the Turkish military
   offensive.

   Rupert Colville, spokesman for the U.N. high commissioner for human
   rights, said the indiscriminate use of such weapons is a violation of
   international humanitarian law.

   "Another issue of concern in this part of the country in the northeast,
   relates to people recently displaced during the military offensive who
   have subsequently been subjected to arbitrary detention, in addition to
   enforced disappearances, after returning to their homes," he said.

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