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Syria war: 'World shrugs' as 103 civilians killed in 10 days | Syria war: 'World shrugs' as 103 civilians killed in 10 days |
(32 minutes later) | |
More than 100 people, including 26 children, have died in government attacks on hospitals, schools, markets and bakeries in the past 10 days, the UN's human rights chief said. | |
Michelle Bachelet said the deaths were part of a "relentless campaign of air strikes by the government and its allies", including Russia. | |
The civilian targets, she added, were unlikely to have all been accidental. | The civilian targets, she added, were unlikely to have all been accidental. |
And yet the reports were being met with "apparent international indifference". | And yet the reports were being met with "apparent international indifference". |
Speaking to reporters, Ms Bachelet hit out at the "failure of leadership by the world's most powerful nations". | Speaking to reporters, Ms Bachelet hit out at the "failure of leadership by the world's most powerful nations". |
The rising death toll in the rebel-held region of Idlib, she said, had been met with a "collective shrug". The conflict had fallen off the international radar while the UN Security Council was paralysed, she added. | The rising death toll in the rebel-held region of Idlib, she said, had been met with a "collective shrug". The conflict had fallen off the international radar while the UN Security Council was paralysed, she added. |
She also warned those carrying out the attacks could be charged with war crimes. | She also warned those carrying out the attacks could be charged with war crimes. |
"It seems highly unlikely, given the persistent pattern of such attacks, that they are all being hit by accident," Ms Bachelet said. | "It seems highly unlikely, given the persistent pattern of such attacks, that they are all being hit by accident," Ms Bachelet said. |
"Intentional attacks against civilians are war crimes, and those who have ordered them or carried them out are criminally responsible for their actions." | "Intentional attacks against civilians are war crimes, and those who have ordered them or carried them out are criminally responsible for their actions." |
What is happening in Syria? | What is happening in Syria? |
Idlib, along with northern Hama and western Aleppo province, is the last opposition stronghold in Syria after eight years of civil war. | Idlib, along with northern Hama and western Aleppo province, is the last opposition stronghold in Syria after eight years of civil war. |
It is supposedly covered by a truce brokered in September by Russia and opposition-backer Turkey that spared the 2.7 million civilians living there from a major government offensive. | It is supposedly covered by a truce brokered in September by Russia and opposition-backer Turkey that spared the 2.7 million civilians living there from a major government offensive. |
Last week, the UN said more than 350 civilians had been killed and 330,000 forced to flee their homes since fighting escalated on 29 April. | Last week, the UN said more than 350 civilians had been killed and 330,000 forced to flee their homes since fighting escalated on 29 April. |
However, this figure has now been revised, with 103 extra deaths in the last 10 days alone. The estimate for the number displaced stands at more than 400,000. | However, this figure has now been revised, with 103 extra deaths in the last 10 days alone. The estimate for the number displaced stands at more than 400,000. |
The government - which is backed by the Russian air force - said the increase in attacks was due to what they said were repeated truce violations by jihadists linked to al-Qaeda who dominate the opposition stronghold. | The government - which is backed by the Russian air force - said the increase in attacks was due to what they said were repeated truce violations by jihadists linked to al-Qaeda who dominate the opposition stronghold. |
Russia has denied reports earlier this week that it carried out airstrikes on a market and residential areas which left at least 31 civilians dead. | Russia has denied reports earlier this week that it carried out airstrikes on a market and residential areas which left at least 31 civilians dead. |