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Two United Nations (UN) rapporteurs on Wednesday urged immediate protection for thousands of civilians caught up in Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) offensives in the Aleppo region of northern Syria.
In recent days, according to the UN in Syria, ISIL has rapidly seized a number of villages and advanced to within two kilometres of Azaz town, putting at risk those internally displaced living in camps near the Turkish border and other vulnerable communities.
An estimated 9,500 people were also encircled by fighting around Mare'a city as ISIL advanced into areas held by other non-state armed groups on May 27, and ISIL's swift takeover of Kiljibrin and Kafr Kalbein also left some 6,000 civilians stranded in the two towns and unable to access safety.
"Despite some reported action to clear routes and allow blockaded civilians safe passage, this situation is deteriorating and urgent responses are needed to save lives," said the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani.
"That means ensuring immediate and unhindered passage of all civilians out of the conflict areas and their protection until they are able to return as well as rapid, safe and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to all those in need," he stressed.
According to UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Christof Heyns, there have been reports that ISIL militants have executed families, including women and children, with alleged links to Free Syrian Army affiliated groups in the town of Kiljibrin.
"We call for the cessation of violence to allow trapped civilians to leave conflict areas as quickly and safely as possible," the UN Rapporteur noted.
(APD)
