UN officials concerned over rising tensions in Syria's Aleppo

 Monday, December 2, 2024

Islamabad (News International / Pakistan News - 11th Dec, 2024 ) The rapidly escalating tensions in the Aleppo region of Syria have displaced thousands of people and reported large-scale deaths. Senior UN officials have warned that the current situation is likely to worsen the country’s humanitarian crisis and further affect regional stability.

The UN Special Representative for Syria, Geir Pedersen, has said that the recent tensions in the country will have serious implications not only for the Syrian people but also for regional and international peace and security.

Fighting and airstrikes are ongoing in the area after the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, designated as a terrorist group by the Security Council, and other armed factions captured large parts of Aleppo a few days ago.

He said that he had been warning about such situations in the country for a long time, saying that instead of temporarily suppressing the Syrian conflict, a permanent political solution must be found. What is happening in the country today is a complete failure to initiate and complete a genuine political process to implement Security Council resolution 1154 (2015).

Geir Pedersen said he would remain in contact with all parties to the conflict to resolve the conflict and was ready to hold new and comprehensive peace talks with the Syrian and international parties to the conflict. The warring parties must seriously engage in meaningful and substantive dialogue. Without this, the country risks further division, destruction and destruction.

The most serious humanitarian crisis

The UN Special Representative and Relief Coordinator for Syria, Adam Abdulmullah, expressed deep concern about the fighting in Aleppo that began on 27 November, saying that it was causing a tragic loss of innocent lives, including women and children. The fighting has caused widespread damage to civilian infrastructure and disrupted the provision of essential services.

The escalation comes at a time when many people in the country are already displaced and have been forced to flee their homes for their lives.

He urged all parties to the conflict to immediately stop fighting and ensure the safety of civilians and aid workers. The Syrian people must not suffer any more, and talks must be started to resolve the problem.

Abdel Molla said that Syria is facing the world’s most serious humanitarian crisis. More than half a million people fled Lebanon to Syria in September, and more than 16.7 million people in the country are in need of humanitarian assistance. This need has increased even more after the recent escalation. Aid agencies and workers are making every effort to provide assistance to the affected people, and the UN team in the country is busy taking steps to alleviate the suffering of civilians affected by the escalation.

The fragile situation in Aleppo

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said that the situation in Aleppo is fragile and uncertain, and is changing rapidly. The fighting, which began in the western part of Aleppo, has rapidly spread to the center of the city, and rebel groups are also conducting operations in the northern and western suburbs. In addition, there are reports of fighting in Idlib and Hama.

In these circumstances, the movement of civilians and the access of humanitarian aid are being severely affected, and several aid agencies have temporarily suspended their activities. A large number of people are trapped in the war-torn areas and are facing difficulties in moving to safer places.

OCHA reported that a curfew has been imposed in Aleppo city. Although basic necessities are available in the city, markets are closed and roads are deserted.

Universities and schools have also been closed due to security risks.

There have also been reports of large numbers of bodies and wounded being brought to Aleppo hospitals, while medical facilities are short of equipment and staff. Locals and media have claimed that public and private banks have run out of Syrian pounds. OCHA says that if these reports are true, the currency shortage in the city will become a crisis.