UNITED NATIONS, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Citing "hundreds of deaths and injuries" from increased violence in northwest Syria, a UN spokesman said the world organization is "deeply alarmed" about the humanitarian impact.
"The United Nations remains deeply alarmed about the humanitarian impact of hostilities in and around the de-escalation zone in northwest Syria," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, adding it has resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries in just over two months.
Dujarric told reporters at a regular briefing that repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure and an increased level of displacement took place both in areas controlled by the government and where Damascus was not in control. The attacks included air strikes, artillery shelling and clashes between opposing forces.
"Since May, 330,000 women, children and men have fled their homes," he said. "Most have sought safety in overcrowded areas where services are overstretched."
Nearly one million people a month across the region receive food baskets, the spokesman said. Deployment of health care facilities has been concentrated in areas where most of the newly-displaced have been settling.