Aid groups say conditions in northwest Syria at crisis point

Published May 17, 2019

This photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense group known as the White Helmets, shows members of the Syrian Civil Defense workers carrying a victim after a deadly airstrike hit a market killing several people in the village of Ras el-Ain, in the northwestern province of Idlib, Syria, Tuesday, May 7, 2019. Opposition activists say government forces have intensified their bombardment of rebel-held towns and villages in northwestern Syria. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP)

Dozens of international aid groups say conditions in Syria's northwest have reached "crisis point" and are calling for an immediate end to the fighting.

The aid groups said, in an appeal issued Friday, violence has displaced an estimated 180,000 people in the last two weeks.

The clashes between rebels and government forces, which flared up on April 30, shattered a cease-fire in place since September.

Aid groups say the violence forced at least 16 humanitarian organizations to suspend their operations in the region, home to 3 million people.

Physicians for Human Rights said that in the last four weeks Syrian government forces and Russian allies have carried out nine attacks on hospitals and medical facilities.

The groups said at least four clearly identified humanitarian posts were targeted.

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