UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is following with great concern the situation in Syria, calling for the protection of civilians and access for humanitarian workers, Stephane Dujarric, his spokesman, said on Monday.
In the face of U.S. forces being pulled from northern Syria and Turkey's plan to start a military operation in northern Syria, Dujarric was asked about the reaction of the United Nations.
"We are in touch with the relevant parties mostly through our office of the special envoy (Geir Pedersen)," Dujarric replied.
The secretary-general for his part is following with great concern the situation in Syria in particular the risks to civilians from any potential escalations. It's very important that all parties exercise maximum restraint at this time, the spokesman said.
"I think what concerns us if there is any increased military action is the lack of access we have to people who need our help," the spokesman said.
Guterres was concerned that civilians and civilian infrastructure need to be protected at all times and that sustained, unimpeded and safe humanitarian access to civilians in need must be guaranteed, Dujarric said.
The White House said in a late Sunday statement that the U.S. military "will not support or be involved in" an expected military operation by Turkey in northern Syria, and U.S. forces "would no longer be in the immediate area."
Turkey has decided to launch a military campaign in the east of Euphrates to clear the area from "terrorists" and resettle refugees, Turkish officials said on Monday.
