‘Extreme’ Suffering in Syria as Government Steps Up Bombing
- 6 years ago
‘Extreme’ Suffering in Syria as Government Steps Up Bombing
The deal to ease violence in certain areas, brokered by Russia with Turkey and Iran — as well as the rout of the Islamic State from most of its territory last year — may have given people the false impression
that the Syrian war was winding down, Mr. Moumtzis said.
Mr. Moumtzis said the United Nations would "ask the government of Syria to stop besiegement,"
and he condemned the lack of cooperation from some rebel groups on aid deliveries.
Mr. Moumtzis called the lack of aid delivery approvals "really outrageous,"
and the rash of attacks on medical facilities "unacceptable." "Humanitarian diplomacy is failing," he said.
The government is carrying out scorched-earth attacks in two of the last major rebel-held areas — near Damascus
and in Idlib — and Turkey is striking a Kurdish area on the northern border.
Supported by By Anne Barnard BEIRUT, Lebanon — At least 80 people were killed on Tuesday in Syrian government air
and artillery strikes on besieged suburbs of the capital, Damascus, one of the last rebel-held strongholds.
United Nations humanitarian officials declared the situation "extreme" even for the nearly seven-year war,
and called on Tuesday for an immediate cease-fire for at least a month to allow aid deliveries.
The deal to ease violence in certain areas, brokered by Russia with Turkey and Iran — as well as the rout of the Islamic State from most of its territory last year — may have given people the false impression
that the Syrian war was winding down, Mr. Moumtzis said.
Mr. Moumtzis said the United Nations would "ask the government of Syria to stop besiegement,"
and he condemned the lack of cooperation from some rebel groups on aid deliveries.
Mr. Moumtzis called the lack of aid delivery approvals "really outrageous,"
and the rash of attacks on medical facilities "unacceptable." "Humanitarian diplomacy is failing," he said.
The government is carrying out scorched-earth attacks in two of the last major rebel-held areas — near Damascus
and in Idlib — and Turkey is striking a Kurdish area on the northern border.
Supported by By Anne Barnard BEIRUT, Lebanon — At least 80 people were killed on Tuesday in Syrian government air
and artillery strikes on besieged suburbs of the capital, Damascus, one of the last rebel-held strongholds.
United Nations humanitarian officials declared the situation "extreme" even for the nearly seven-year war,
and called on Tuesday for an immediate cease-fire for at least a month to allow aid deliveries.