Syria experiencing unprecedented levels of internal displacement: UN report

Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-13 02:57:41|Editor: yan
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GENEVA, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- The war-torn Syria is seeing unprecedented levels of internal displacement that have not been seen throughout the seven-year conflict in the country, a UN Commission said Wednesday in its latest report.

According to the report released Wednesday by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, during the first half of this year, over one million Syrian men, women, and children were displaced with most now living in dire conditions.

The report attributed the mass displacement to six key battles in Syria, referring to the intense fighting in Aleppo, northern Homs, Damascus, Rif Damascus, Dara'a, and Idlib governorates.

Displaced Syrians face myriad hardships and challenges to their livelihoods, including the lack of access to sufficient food, water, medial services, basic sanitation facilities, and adequate accommodation, the report said.

"It is completely inexcusable that no party to this conflict adhered to their obligations towards civilians displaced by their military operations," said Commission Chair Paulo Pinheiro.

The report warned that a large proportion of those displaced currently languish in Idlib, where another offensive is likely to generate another catastrophic human rights and humanitarian crisis.

Urging all parties to the conflict in Syria and the international community to prioritize the plight of those internally displaced, the UN Commission in its report also proposed a set of feasible recommendations which "require only political will".

The report is scheduled to be presented next week at the on-going 39th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The Commission, which comprises three members, has been mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate and record all violations of international law in Syria since March 2011.

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