UN reports militant offensive in Syria displaces 280,000
The United Nations has issued a caution regarding the potential increase in Syrian refugees, which may reach 1.5 million due to the recent advances by jihadist forces. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The ongoing conflict between Islamist factions and government forces in Syria has led to the displacement of approximately 280,000 individuals in just a few days, as reported by the United Nations on Friday.
Samer AbdelJaber, head of emergency coordination at the UN’s World Food Program, has indicated that the number of refugees could increase to 1.5 million.
The recent escalation began with a surprise attack by militant forces, led by Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS), from their base in Idlib. This marks the first significant confrontation between jihadist and Syrian government forces since March 2020, when a ceasefire was established by Russia and Türkiye after years of civil conflict.
HTS, which translates to the "Organization for the Liberation of the Levant," is designated as a terrorist group by the UN Security Council.
“The figure we have in front of us is 280,000 people since November 27,” AbdelJaber stated during a press briefing in Geneva, emphasizing that the current wave of displacement adds to years of suffering experienced by the population.
In the past week, militant groups have pushed back Syrian forces and seized critical land in the northeastern region, capturing Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, which had been under government control since 2016. Just recently, on Thursday, the jihadists also took control of Hama, compelling the army's withdrawal.
Hama holds significant geographical importance in central Syria, located about 200 kilometers from the capital, Damascus, and roughly 50 kilometers north of Homs.
Media sources have reported that thousands are fleeing Homs, the third-largest city in Syria, as the militants advance toward it.
AbdelJaber mentioned that the WFP and other humanitarian organizations are “trying to reach the communities wherever their needs are,” adding that efforts are underway to “secure safe routes so that we can be able to move the aid and the assistance to the communities that are in need.” He further warned that “if the situation continues evolving [at the current] pace, we’re expecting collectively around 1.5 million people that will be displaced and will be requiring our support.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
Samer AbdelJaber, head of emergency coordination at the UN’s World Food Program, has indicated that the number of refugees could increase to 1.5 million.
The recent escalation began with a surprise attack by militant forces, led by Hayat Tahrir-al-Sham (HTS), from their base in Idlib. This marks the first significant confrontation between jihadist and Syrian government forces since March 2020, when a ceasefire was established by Russia and Türkiye after years of civil conflict.
HTS, which translates to the "Organization for the Liberation of the Levant," is designated as a terrorist group by the UN Security Council.
“The figure we have in front of us is 280,000 people since November 27,” AbdelJaber stated during a press briefing in Geneva, emphasizing that the current wave of displacement adds to years of suffering experienced by the population.
In the past week, militant groups have pushed back Syrian forces and seized critical land in the northeastern region, capturing Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, which had been under government control since 2016. Just recently, on Thursday, the jihadists also took control of Hama, compelling the army's withdrawal.
Hama holds significant geographical importance in central Syria, located about 200 kilometers from the capital, Damascus, and roughly 50 kilometers north of Homs.
Media sources have reported that thousands are fleeing Homs, the third-largest city in Syria, as the militants advance toward it.
AbdelJaber mentioned that the WFP and other humanitarian organizations are “trying to reach the communities wherever their needs are,” adding that efforts are underway to “secure safe routes so that we can be able to move the aid and the assistance to the communities that are in need.” He further warned that “if the situation continues evolving [at the current] pace, we’re expecting collectively around 1.5 million people that will be displaced and will be requiring our support.”
Alejandro Jose Martinez contributed to this report for TROIB News
