First group of Gaza children to be evacuated to UK for treatment 'in coming weeks'    European leaders stress unity with Ukraine ahead of Washington summit    King Salman and Crown Prince condole with Pakistan president over flood victims    Syrian minister to visit Riyadh on Monday to deepen economic cooperation    Thousands cross Channel in small boats since new migrant deal with France    'Skibidi' and 'tradwife' among words added to Cambridge Dictionary    Saudi citizen airlifted from Azerbaijan for treatment    26 health violations detected and two establishments closed in Riyadh    Saud Abdulhamid becomes first Saudi player to debut in French league    CMA prohibits foreign investors from owning over 49% of shares of any entity    Al Nassr sign Kingsley Coman from Bayern Munich in €30m deal    Data centers to be expanded across UK as concerns mount    Saudi Arabia approves digital ID use for non-resident foreigners to own property    Des Buckingham takes charge of Al Kholood ahead of new RSL season    Music Commission to present 'Marvels of Saudi Orchestra' at Palace of Versailles on September 5    AI designs antibiotics for gonorrhoea and MRSA superbugs    HONOR introduces HONOR Magic V5 foldable at a premium regional event in Dubai    Al Nassr arrive in Hong Kong targeting Saudi Super Cup glory    Universal Inspection Co. Ltd. (UIC): Transforming industrial excellence with world-class precision    Baby Shark did not plagiarize, South Korea's top court rules    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



After fleeing bombs, Syrian families shelter in olive groves
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 19 - 05 - 2019

Families who fled the Syrian government and Russian strikes in northwestern Syria are sleeping in an olive grove near the Turkish border without enough food and no place else to go.
They are some of the 180,000 people who have escaped an upsurge in violence in the last militant bastion in the last few weeks. It marks the most intense escalation between President Bashar Al-Assad and militants factions since last summer, with dozens killed in the shelling in northwestern Syria.
"The house fell in over my children and grandchildren at night ... but God saved them, they emerged from the rubble," said a 70-year-old woman who gave her name as Aziza as she spoke under the shade of an olive tree.
Aziza's family is one of the scores who fled targeted parts of southern Idlib and northern Hama province and are now living in the olive groves at the Turkish border. There is no room for them at the nearby camp for the displaced in the town of Atmeh.
Aziza fled her town of Kfar Nabuda with 17 relatives nearly two weeks ago, taking nothing with her, as the warplanes flew overhead. The exodus has left many towns and villages empty.
Some have made makeshift tents by stringing sheets between the olive trees. Infants sleep under mosquito nets suspended from the branches. One of the shelters was equipped with a kitchen stove.
Tahrir Al-Sham, which includes the Qaeda-linked group formerly known as Nusra Front, is the dominant militant faction in the northwest. Militants launched a counterattack this week to counter ground advances by Syrian government forces.
Airstrikes
Airstrikes have struck 18 health facilities and violence has destroyed at least 16 schools, UN humanitarian adviser Najat Rochdi told reporters in Geneva.
"Aerial bombardment, including the reported use of barrel bombs causing severe damage to civilian infrastructures and civilian casualties, is a war practice which goes against every single humanitarian principle," she said.
Medical charity UOSSM said the Tarmala Maternity and Children's Hospital was destroyed by an airstrike on Wednesday, but there were no casualties as it had been evacuated. The Syrian government says it is responding to attacks by Qaeda-linked militants.
Much of the bombardment has hit a buffer zone agreed in September under a Russian-Turkish deal that spared the region and its 3 million residents from a full-blown assault.
Ankara, which backs some militant groups, has deployed forces into the region in agreement with Russia. They are stationed at a dozen positions, one of which was hit by shelling from Syrian government territory.
Turkey has called on the Syrian government to stop the attacks. Still, Abu Abdo Al-Khani said Ankara's deal with Moscow had failed to help his family.
"We were supposed to be within the secure zone, where is it?" Khani, 30, said. "Where are (Turkish President) Erdogan and his guarantees to protect us?"
Khani's family fled the town of Khan Sheikhoun on foot through the countryside. He said they had received some blankets and water in the olive field. "We haven't showered in 15 days ... We're living under the trees at the border, who would accept such a life?" — Reuters


Clic here to read the story from its source.