Warning About the Situation of Two Million People in Idlib, Syria

The senior humanitarian official of the United Nations has warned about the ongoing conflicts among rebels, airstrikes, and the excessive increase in the population of refugees in Idlib. Idlib is one of the last regions in Syria still under the control of rebels. According to the Associated Press, Mark Lowcock, the UN's senior humanitarian coordinator, told the Security Council that the continuation of airstrikes, internal conflicts among armed groups, excessive population growth, and severe damage to essential services have put Idlib in a critical situation. Less than a month ago, the United Nations also warned about the situation in Idlib. In early April, Stefan de Mistura, the UN special envoy for Syria, stated that the remaining aid in the hands of humanitarian organizations is running out, and the world must act to 'prevent a new humanitarian disaster, this time in Idlib.' Many rebel groups that have lost their controlled areas in recent months have headed to Idlib in northwestern Syria. The Associated Press reports that the security situation in the region has deteriorated due to conflicts among various rebels with the 'Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham,' a branch of Al-Qaeda. Mr. Lowcock stated that only in the month of March, 80,000 more refugees have arrived in Idlib. Francois Delattre, the French ambassador to the UN, also confirmed the crisis, stating that over two million people, including hundreds of thousands who have recently fled from government-controlled areas, are living in neighborhoods and camps that are overcrowded. Mr. Delattre said, 'We must do everything possible to prevent Idlib from becoming a new humanitarian disaster.' Mark Lowcock, in another part of his report to the Security Council, mentioned that two million Syrian citizens in remote areas, including northern Homs, Douma, and citizens in southern Damascus, are facing very difficult conditions. Since the beginning of this year, only six aid convoys have reached these areas, and less than 20 percent of the people have benefited from services and assistance. The Syrian civil war, which began in late 2010, has left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced more than half of the country's population.