Response Coordinators condemn the recent military escalation in Idlib province

In a statement, the Syria Response Coordination Group warned against the return of military operations to the area and the increase in the suffering of civilians, and condemned the recent escalations in Idlib countryside, calling on all parties concerned with Syrian affairs to work to stop them and allow civilians to return to their areas and settle there.

The group confirmed that, in a new violation of the ceasefire agreement in northwestern Syria on March 5, 2020, the Assad regime forces targeted the Sarmada area in the northern Idlib countryside, in addition to hundreds of violations by the Assad regime forces and allied militias that were documented by the Syria response coordinators in the region since the start of the agreement, its number has reached more than 197 violations of the agreement since the beginning of this month, with a clear Russian contribution.

The group explained that the Assad regime forces targeted one of the most crowded areas of civilians in general and camps in particular, in addition to the main buildings and warehouses of humanitarian organizations, as it is the closest area to the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, which works to bring humanitarian aid across the border in accordance with the recent UN Security Council resolution, which caused a state of great fear. The displaced have the right to return to their displacement if the area is targeted again.

The group added that the area is unable to absorb any new displacement movement to the camps, especially in light of the great losses and damages in the camps during the previous period.
The group pointed out that the Assad regime forces and the Russian forces seriously escalated their artillery bombardment on northwestern Syria, targeting a number of vital facilities on the road between Bab al-Hawa and Sarmada in the northern countryside of Idlib, which led to the death of 4 people, the injury of 23 others and great material losses.

The Syrian Civil Defense Department said that this escalation comes at a time when the Assad regime forces and their Russian ally are promoting a new military attack on the area, which threatens a humanitarian catastrophe that may be the worst since 2011 and threatens the lives of more than 4 million civilians.