(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) New York, Jan. 10 (Petra) -- United Nation (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, on Wednesday, condemned an upsurge in civilian casualties in Eastern Ghouta in Syria, amid the recent escalation in airstrikes and ground-based attacks by Government forces and their allies.
In a statement issued by the UN News Centre, Prince Zeid said all parties are obliged under international law to distinguish between lawful military targets and civilians and civilian objects.
He also expressed "grave concern" about the situation of an estimated two million people in Idlib, which saw an increase in the clashes.
"The suffering of the people of Syria knows no end. Residential areas in Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of the nation's capital, Damascus, are being hit day and night by strikes from the ground and the air, forcing civilians to hide in basements. Armed opposition groups also continue to fire rockets into residential areas in Government-controlled Damascus. In Idlib, ground attacks and airstrikes have escalated as a rapidly-moving Government offensive gains momentum, jeopardizing the safety of hundreds of thousands of civilians," said the UN human rights chief.
"I repeat my call for the parties to ensure strict adherence to international law including by ensuring the protection of civilians from the effects of hostilities and to allow unhindered access by humanitarian agencies to provide badly needed aid, in Eastern Ghouta, where at least 390,000 civilians have been living under siege for four years," Prince Zeid concluded.
AF
10/1/2018 - 09:21:50 PM
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