Sayeed Muhammad: A probable Syrian government offensive against rebels in Idlib province may displace over 700,000 people, far more than were uprooted in a recent battle in the southwest of Syria, feared a UN-led group of health agencies.
In a monthly report the group said many of Syria’s battles have ended with agreements for fighters and their families to depart for Idlib governorate, where an influx of displaced people has roughly doubled the population to around 2.5 million.
The UN has said the province has become a “dumping ground” for evacuees, reports Reuters.
The report styled Health Cluster Bulletin, published by a group of health-focused aid agencies led by the World Health Organization, said aid workers were bracing for the Idlib battle.
“Increased hostilities are expected in the North West in the coming period, to result in displacements of 250,000 to over 700,000 people in Idlib and surrounding areas,” it said.
“This will cause an increased need for humanitarian assistance to the new vulnerable and host communities, especially emergency health services.”
Between mid-June and the end of July, 184,000 people were displaced by a battle in the south and subsequent agreements to end the fighting there, with more than 10,000 going to Idlib and northern Aleppo governorate.
The UN has repeatedly warned about the dangers of an attack on Idlib while Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad said in a Russian media interview last month that Idlib governorate would be a priority for his forces.
UN regional humanitarian coordinator Panos Moumtzis said in June that the governorate’s entire population of 2.5 million could be displaced and move towards the Turkish border if there was a major battle.