UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "is gravely concerned over the military developments in northeast Syria," as the number of civilian casualties increase and the number of displaced persons swells to 160,000, his spokesman said on Monday.
Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, said Guterres continues to call for maximum restraint, reminding that any military operation must fully respect international law and humanitarian aid access.
"The secretary-general calls for the immediate de-escalation and urges all parties to resolve their concerns through peaceful means," Dujarric said.
"The secretary-general emphasizes that civilians not taking part in hostilities must be protected at all times," the spokesman said. "Likewise, civilian infrastructure must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law. He recognizes in particular the vulnerabilities of internally displaced persons."
The secretary-general expressed his concern that fighting could lead to the unintended release of prisoners associated with the Islamic State, "with all the consequences this could entail," the spokesman said.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that of the 3 million men, women and children living in Syria's northeast, 1.8 million of them already were in need of aid, including over 910,000 in acute need, and close to 710,000 of those already internally displaced.
While OCHA is continuing with its contingency planning and the humanitarian workers are committed to stay in the northeast, Dujarric said the organization is concerned about their safety.
The UN Children's Agency estimates that nearly 70,000 children have been displaced since the hostilities escalated, adding that at least four children have been killed and nine others injured in northeast Syria. Seven children reportedly have been killed in Turkey.
The World Food Programme has so far provided immediate food assistance to more than 70,000 people fleeing towns in the area," the spokesman said. The agency is providing families in shelters with ready-to-eat food that does not require cooking while those staying with host families receive a regular food package.
OCHA has said many of the displaced stay with families or friends but increasingly more of the displaced have to stay in camps.
On the political front, Geir Pedersen, the UN special envoy for Syria, met with 28 European Union foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday, urging those fighting in northeastern Syria to refrain from actions that further imperil civilians, undermine sovereignty, destabilize the fragile situation and endanger efforts on the political track, Dujarric said.
