After Assad’s forces successfully reasserted their control on most of the southwest of the war-torn-country; all eyes are directed to the last major rebel stronghold to the north, the Islamist controlled Idlib region, which borders Turkey. While most of the agreements reached with Damascus on rebels surrendering territories comprised, among others, the transfer of Islamist militants to the Idlib region; Russia, Iran and Turkey vowed to do their utmost to avoid a battle that would threaten millions of civilians. The United Nations Humanitarian Adviser for Syria Jan Egeland noted, following a meeting with representatives of the three powers, that there were at least 4 million people in the potential battleground in northwest Syria, and he hoped diplomats and military envoys could reach a deal to prevent a “bloodbath.”
“I was heartened to hear that both the Russian Federation, Turkey, Iran – the “Astana Three” – say that they will do their utmost to avoid war in and for the civilians of Idlib. And we urged those Westerners and Gulf countries who have influence on the armed oppositions groups to do more to avoid these armed groups to continue reckless behavior, violent behavior, behavior that is totally contrary to humanitarian work and principles in many of the areas,” U.N. Humanitarian Adviser for Syria
The U.N. envoy further urged Turkey, which he hailed as the most generous nation on earth in receiving refugees, to keep their borders open for refugees if the need arises.
“There is of course only one way to escape this if you are not going to cross frontline than into government-controlled area, and that would be to Turkey. So of course, our appeal is to what is already the most generous nation on earth, I think, in receiving refugees, which is Turkey, that they will hold their border open for civilians who will seek protection should the need arise,”
U.N. Humanitarian Adviser for Syria Jan Egeland said.
The U.N. envoy for noted that the world body was preparing for any possible violence, and will continue to monitor the situation closely.