Save the Children: Tens of thousands flee new surge in Syria violence

Statement and Information for Live Tele-briefing with Doctors inside Syria

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Feb 11, 2016, 01:51 ET

FAIRFIELD, Conn., Feb. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thousands of fleeing families continue to be trapped between border and conflict zone as fighting intensifies around the cities of Aleppo, in northern Syria, and Dara'a, in the south. There are reports of between 35,000 – 90,000 newly displaced, and up to 80 percent of those displaced around Aleppo are said to be women and children.

Save the Children has joined other humanitarian aid groups in calling for an immediate cease-fire and renewed peace negotiations to end the nearly five years of conflict.

"We are witnessing the worst refugee crisis since the Second World War, and each day the situation grows worse," said Carolyn Miles, President and CEO of Save the Children U.S.

"Save the Children has received reports that in just the past few days, thousands of civilians have been forced from their homes as violence escalates throughout key areas of Aleppo and Dara'a. Women and children are fleeing by the thousands, only to have nowhere safe to escape to."

There are also growing fears that thousands of families in Aleppo city may soon be trapped under siege. Miles noted that other besieged towns and cities in Syria have been cut off from receiving food, water and essential supplies. "Children have been dying of starvation as a result," she said.

Save the Children also calls on parties to the conflict to stop the targeting of schools and hospitals. There are reports that the last three functioning hospitals in rural northern Syria have shut down due to recent airstrikes.

"These attacks on populated areas are simply unacceptable," Miles adds. "All parties to the conflict must be held accountable to ensure that civilians are spared the worst effects, and are not targeted."

Since the Syrian conflict began in March 2011, 5.8 million children have been displaced, either within Syria or as refugees in the region. Syrian children have been forced from their homes at the average rate of 3,245 a day.

Hear perspectives from inside Syria on tomorrow's tele-briefing
Aleppo on the Verge of Siege: Voices from the Ground –
Humanitarian Workers Discuss Dire Living Conditions, Call for Urgent U.S. Leadership to Lift All Sieges in Syria

WHO:	Dr. Osama Abo El Ezz, General Surgeon in Hospital in Aleppo, Syrian American Medical Society
	Dalia al-Awqati, Director of North Syria Programs, Mercy Corps
	Dr. Abdelsalam Daif, Aleppo Programs Manager & Turkey Country Director, Syria Relief & Development
	Moderated by: Ambassador Michael Klosson, Vice President, Policy & Humanitarian Response, Save the Children

WHEN:	Friday, February 12
	9:30-10:30 AM EST

WHERE:	Please RSVP by 8 am on Friday, February 12