The UN and US have stepped up criticism of Damascus and Moscow over the worsening humanitarian situation in Idlib and accused them of “indiscriminative” air strikes, something that Russia and Syria resolutely denied.
On 21 June, United Nations Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis Panos Moumtzis condemned the “deplorable” violence against civilians in Idlib.
“I am shocked and appalled by reports of an incident yesterday in which a female patient and three paramedic staff were killed when the ambulance they were travelling in to Maarat Al Numan main hospital, in Idlib, was hit by a strike”, Moumtzis stated.
Earlier, on 18 June United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Mark Lowcock told the UN Security Council that “over the last six weeks, the conduct of hostilities has resulted in more than 230 civilian deaths including 69 women and 81 children”, adding that an estimated 330,000 people had fled their homes since 1 May.
Referring to reported attacks on Idlib medical facilities and schools, Lowcock pointed the finger at the Syrian government and Russia, claiming that “some have drawn the conclusion that hospital bombings are a deliberate tactic aimed at terrorising people”.
Moscow and Damascus have rejected the allegations, stressing that they were fighting against the UN-designated terrorist group Hayat Tahrir Al Sham*.
“We decisively reject any accusation of indiscriminate strikes. We're not carrying out attacks on civilians”, stated Russia's UN…
