UN: Displaced Syrians suffer in harsh conditions

17 February


The United Nations says more than 800,000 Syrians have been displaced within the country as fierce fighting continues between the government and opposition forces.


Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia, have stepped up their offensive against Idlib province, and neighboring Aleppo province in northwestern Syria -- the opposition's last strongholds.


The opposition troops backed by Turkish forces are fighting back.


The UN says at least 800,000 people have fled the fighting since the start of December.


It says that aid organizations are unable to keep up with the scale and rapidity, and one out of 10, or 82,000 of the newly displaced people, have been forced to take shelter in open areas.


These dire conditions are further exacerbated by harsh winter weather across northwestern Syria with temperatures dropping to nearly minus 10 degrees Celsius at night. 


The areas saw snowfall over the weekend.


Some children are reported to have died due to the freezing temperatures.


The UN is calling for an immediate ceasefire, warning that cold weather and harsh conditions are threatening lives of the displaced Syrians. 


But there is little prospect for improvement as the fighting continues to escalate.


NHK