The destructions after government forces' bombings in the town of Al Habit on the southern edges of the rebel-held Idlib province on September 9, 2018. AFP / OMAR HAJ KADOUR
ANKARA: The UN's Human Right Council on Monday expressed concerns over "the ongoing military operations" and their impact on millions of civilians in Syria’s northwestern Idlib province.
In the keynote speech at the 39th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said: "We remind all parties to the conflict that they must adhere strictly to all relevant principles of international humanitarian law in the conduct of operations."
The impact of the conflicts on civilians should be minimized, humanitarian aid should be provided, and humanitarian corridors should be opened to ensure that the civilians safely leave conflict-affected areas, Bachelet added.
"Accountability must be a cornerstone of the country's future," she said.
The Syrian regime has recently announced plans to launch a major military offensive in the area, which has long been controlled by various armed opposition groups.
The UN warned last week that such an offensive would lead to the "worst humanitarian catastrophe in the 21st century".
