Joint Statement by the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Mr Adam Abdelmoula, and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, Mr Muhannad Hadi, on the renewed hostilities in northern Syria [EN/AR]

Damascus and Amman, 6 October 2023 – We are gravely concerned about the renewed wave of hostilities in northern Syria.

On 5 October, reports of multiple attacks were received on several sites in northern Syria. Multiple reports of civilian deaths and injuries, including women and children, have also been received. Significant damage to critical civilian infrastructure occurred in Aleppo, Idleb, Homs, Tal Tamer, Qamishli and Al Hasakeh.

These deeply troubling developments are a stark reminder that the crisis in Syria continues to devastate the civilian population and wreak havoc on civilian infrastructure facilities. Such incidents also disrupt humanitarian activities, with potentially drastic humanitarian consequences for the people in need.

We implore all parties to take constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects – including homes and essential infrastructure – throughout their military operations in Syria in accordance with International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law.

We remind all parties that the people in Syria, regardless of where they live, have the right to life in a peaceful and safe country.

For further information: Olga Cherevko, Spokesperson, OCHA Syria, Damascus: cherevko@un.org