Statement attributed to the United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria ad interim, Mr Sudipto Mukerjee on missile attacks on residential areas in Damascus [EN/AR]

Damascus, 22 February 2024: I am gravely concerned about yesterday’s missile attacks on a residential building in Kafr Sousa neighbourhood in Damascus, less than 250 meters from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) office.
The attacks resulted in two deaths and one injury in addition to severe material damage in the largely residential area. An adjacent school was rendered inoperable. Students and teachers were reportedly found in extreme state of distress.
Only weeks into 2024, Damascus has been hit five times by airstrikes and missile attacks causing deaths and injuries and severely damaging civilian infrastructure. In January, an attack targeted the largely residential neighbourhood of western Mazzeh in Damascus in close proximity to several UN offices.

These attacks further complicate the situation in Syra, interrupt humanitarian activities, and disrupt humanitarian access. Civilians in Syria continue to suffer from damages inflicted on civilian infrastructure, further degrading their wellbeing and ability to access services.

I reiterate that international humanitarian law must be strictly respected at all times. International humanitarian law explicitly prohibits directing attacks against civilians and civilian objects. In addition, constant care must be taken, throughout any military operations, to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure.