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Syrians stranded in 'dire' desert conditions after fall of Deraa
Source: The Guardian
Syrians stranded in 'dire' desert conditions after fall of Deraa
Up to 250,000 without shelter having fled birthplace of uprising where surrender agreed
Kareem Shaheen in Istanbul
Fri 13 Jul 2018 16.29 BST
The United Nations has called for unimpeded access to almost 250,000 Syrians stranded in the desert near Jordan and Israel, who fled as forces loyal to the regime of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, entered rebel-controlled parts of Deraa, the birthplace of protests that led to the country’s civil and proxy war.
The UN high commissioner for refugees said 234,500 people had fled the violence in the country’s south since mid-June. The international body’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said their situation was “dire”. It said they were residing without shelter or protection from desert heat and winds and had dwindling food supplies, as it called on all warring sides to allow the passage of aid deliveries to civilians.
The UN’s call came hours after a symbolic victory for Assad’s forces that illustrates the turning tides of the conflict. Syrian state media said they hoisted their flag for the first time in years in the rebel-controlled parts of the city after a surrender deal was agreed with local rebels, which included a planned handover of weapons and the exile of opposition fighters and activists.
“Units of the Syrian Arab army entered the district of Deraa al-Balad and raised the national flag in the main square … a declaration that Deraa is now clear of terrorism,” said the state news agency Sana, referring to the opposition groups as terrorists.
-snip-
Up to 250,000 without shelter having fled birthplace of uprising where surrender agreed
Kareem Shaheen in Istanbul
Fri 13 Jul 2018 16.29 BST
The United Nations has called for unimpeded access to almost 250,000 Syrians stranded in the desert near Jordan and Israel, who fled as forces loyal to the regime of the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, entered rebel-controlled parts of Deraa, the birthplace of protests that led to the country’s civil and proxy war.
The UN high commissioner for refugees said 234,500 people had fled the violence in the country’s south since mid-June. The international body’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said their situation was “dire”. It said they were residing without shelter or protection from desert heat and winds and had dwindling food supplies, as it called on all warring sides to allow the passage of aid deliveries to civilians.
The UN’s call came hours after a symbolic victory for Assad’s forces that illustrates the turning tides of the conflict. Syrian state media said they hoisted their flag for the first time in years in the rebel-controlled parts of the city after a surrender deal was agreed with local rebels, which included a planned handover of weapons and the exile of opposition fighters and activists.
“Units of the Syrian Arab army entered the district of Deraa al-Balad and raised the national flag in the main square … a declaration that Deraa is now clear of terrorism,” said the state news agency Sana, referring to the opposition groups as terrorists.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/12/assads-forces-retake-daraa-birthplace-of-syrias-uprising