Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Millions of Civilians Face Humanitarian Catastrophe in Idlib, Syria

Lisa Schlein

   GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - U.N. investigators say millions of civilians in
   Idlib under siege by Russian-backed Syrian forces - and a terrorist
   group that controls the area - are facing a humanitarian catastrophe
   and are in urgent need of emergency assistance. The [1]Independent
   International Commission of Inquiry on Syria has just released its
   latest report, which covers the period between July 11 and January 10.

   The report, which includes latest developments in Syria and finds the
   military onslaught by Russian-backed Syrian forces to retake Idlib from
   the terrorist group Hay'at Tahris al-Sham has led to unprecedented
   levels of displacement. Of the three million civilians trapped in
   Idlib, it says about one-third have fled their homes.

   The report accuses Russia of possible war crimes in the bombing of a
   marketplace on July 22, which killed 43 civilians, and then again on
   August 16. That was when a compound for displaced people was attacked,
   killing 20 people, including six children. Russia denies its planes
   were involved in these attacks.

   The Commission has been tracking attacks on what international
   humanitarian law calls protected civilian objects. These include
   hospitals, schools and places of worship. Commission member Hanny
   Megally told VOA hospitals have been attacked with the purpose of
   forcing people to leave.

   "There is a war crime of intentionally terrorizing the population to
   force it to move. And, I think we are seeing that picture emerging very
   clearly. For example, in Idlib where because these places are being
   bombed, people are having to move out of the areas that they are living
   in because they cannot sustain living in those areas," said Megally.

References

   1. https://www.ohchr.org/en/hrbodies/hrc/iicisyria/pages/independentinternationalcommission.aspx

.