Almost 50,000 people have fled the recently intensified fighting in Syria, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA.
Since last week, Syria has seen the fiercest fighting in four years. Jihadist groups and Turkish-backed groups allied with them launched a large-scale attack on government forces around Aleppo.
Secretary General of the UN Antonio Guterres said on Monday that he was concerned about the escalation of violence in Syria and called for an immediate end to the fighting.
– Every party must do everything possible to protect civilians and civilian objects. In addition, civilians must be able to get to safety without hindrance, Guterres’ spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
– Syrians have suffered from the conflict for almost 14 years. They deserve a political vision that offers a peaceful future, no more bloodshed, Dujarric added.
About half a million people have died in the Syrian civil war that began in 2011 with anti-government protests.