Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Civilians flee fighting in southern Syria

Civilians seeking safety near Daraa in southern Syria
Civilians seeking safety near Daraa in southern Syria
Copyright 
By Mark Armstrong
Published on
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copy to clipboard Copied

The UN is warning of a humanitarian disaster as the government continues its offensive to gain control of rebel-held Daraa

In Syria, displaced families are seeking a safe haven at a camp close to the border with Jordan. Facilities are lacking or basic at best.

The United Nations says the number of people uprooted has more than tripled to 160,000 over the past two days.

People are living in tents; what belongings they could carry are strewn around, and there are no toilets.

But for the families, it is safer than staying in our around the city of Daraa in southwestern Syria.

A government offensive to recapture rebel-held southern provinces began last week

Activists say at least 17 civilians have been killed in an air strike on a basement shelter, claiming five children were among the victims.

The UN is warning of a humanitarian "catastrophe" with civilians trapped in a siege situation,

Jordan said a new ceasefire had been agreed on Friday - but the US State Department couldn't confirm it and described the situation as "grim".

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

Estimated €185bn needed to rebuild Syria after 14 years of civil war, World Bank says

Syria's Al-Sharaa seeks extradition of Kremlin ally al-Assad in first Moscow trip

Syria holds its first parliamentary election since ousting of Bashar al-Assad