Mercy Corps Calls For Immediate Ceasefire In NW Syria As Lives Hang In The Balance

Statement from Beth deHamel, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps has worked in Syria during the entirety of the nine year conflict -- as well as in every major global conflict over the past three decades. And yet, what we are seeing unfold in Idlib and Western Aleppo is unprecedented. The human suffering is catastrophic. We call on all parties to the conflict to reach an immediate ceasefire, to end the fighting in northwest Syria, and to expedite aid to those in need. No matter how difficult, the international community must push for a serious political solution and accountability for the violations of international law that have been committed with impunity. 

Since the beginning of the year, approximately three hundred people have been killed in Aleppo and Idlib, including many women and children. Nearly one million people have fled for their lives. Families who have been displaced numerous times are again on the move. Nearly 170,000 people are currently living without shelter and many are resorting to burning their own clothes for warmth. Even as young children freeze to death in harsh winter conditions, world leaders continue to fail the Syrian people. Mercy Corps calls on governments, the United Nations, and other actors to find a diplomatic solution to end the unrelenting violence.

Sources: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/flash_update_nws_20200220.pdf https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/recent-developments-northwest-syria-situation-report-no-8-13-february
https://reliefweb.int/report/syrian-arab-republic/recent-developments-northwest-syria-flash-update-no-8-20-february-2020