[ad_1]
The security of more than 270,000 civilians who have fled the recent fighting in southern Syria is raising fears. Humanitarian groups and local doctors make urgent appeals for people abandoned in the homeless desert.
A strategic area bordering both Jordan and Israel has stopped while negotiations for a deal between the rebels in the region and the main support of the Syrian government, Russia, continue. But UN officials say more than 270,000 people have fled their homes in the past two weeks, 160,000 of whom have fled to the Golan Heights and the Israeli border.
More than 200 civilians were reportedly killed in fighting in Deraa, which is believed to be a "de-escalation" zone with a ceasefire guaranteed by Russia, Turkey, and Iran in place. The latest wave of violence began in mid-June after a year of relative peace, while the Bashar al-Assad regime continued military campaigns in other parts of the country. "The humanitarian situation is bad," said a doctor. Quneitra, near the Golan Heights, who asked to remain anonymous because of concerns for the safety of his family. "It's a small area to which entire towns and villages have been displaced, and it's a major tragedy."
Deraa is symbolic for the Syrian opposition. The city of Deraa was the cradle of protests in 2011 that spread throughout Syria before moving towards rebellion against the Assad regime. Most of the opposition fighters in the region are members of moderate rebel groups, part of the Southern Front alliance backed by the United States and the United Kingdom and run from a command center to Amman, the Jordanian capital. The branches of rebellion, the Southern Front has long been hampered by the reluctant support of their supporters and fractures in their own ranks. Western allies reported last month that they would not intervene militarily to protect their prosecutors.
The regime of Assad and Russia turned their military attention to Deraa after securing other large parts of Syria, including Aleppo and eastern Ghouta. The offensive in Deraa followed a similar pattern of separating rebel territories and negotiating reconciliation agreements, according to which rebels lay down arms and are either forcibly removed to a territory held by the government. opposition near the Turkish border, either under governmental authority. Some parts of southern Syria have already surrendered, and a ceasefire lasted two days in the negotiations between the rebel groups and the Russians.
Doctors say that eight hospitals have been bombed since the beginning of the offensive. Ahmad al-Dbis, a senior official of the Union of Medical and Relief Organizations, which runs the hospitals in the opposition-controlled areas in Syria, said three of his employees had been killed with three other medical workers. In total, more than 210 civilians were killed and 500 wounded, including rescuers.
But massive displacement of civilians surprised many, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in a country where half of the population was displaced in the seven years of war.
The offensive against Deraa has been the subject of rumors for months, but it was politically sensitive to Israel especially because of the possible involvement of Iran-backed militias and the fear of establishing a presence so close to the border. Israel said it would not allow refugees to enter the country.
Jordan is also facing increasing pressure to open its border to people fleeing violence, especially as families on both sides share a common heritage. married before the war. Images and videos on social networks showed that Jordanians were flocking to the border with Syrians on the run.
But Amman, which sealed the border in 2016 after Islamic State militants killed border guards, resisted calls. a negotiated ceasefire. More than 600,000 Syrian refugees are already in Jordan.
Amnesty International calls on Jordan to open its borders.
"The inhabitants of Daraa are effectively trapped – many displaced people live in makeshift tents in the scorching heat. from food, water or medical care, and with the constant fear of being exposed to attacks at some point, "said Lynn Maalouf, director of research at Amnesty International's Middle East. "The Jordanian border is their only gateway to security."
Local doctors say civilians who fled to border areas are exposed, lack shelter, tents, food and sufficient water and sanitary facilities. At least 12 children died of scorpion, dehydration and contaminated water. Many others are in danger of sunstroke.
Source link
