Photo taken on April 24, 2018 shows smoke rising from the Islamic State militant's positions in the Hajar al-Aswad neighbourhood, south of Damascus, Syria. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)
UNITED NATIONS, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is deeply concerned about the safety and protection of an estimated 750,000 people in southern Syria, where hostilities are endangering civilians and causing displacement, said a UN spokesman on Thursday.
Fighting and shelling continued to be reported on Thursday in many towns on the eastern and western side of Daraa governorate, said Farhan Haq, the spokesman. On Wednesday, shelling and fighting in several areas of Daraa governorate reportedly killed 20 people, including 11 in Daraa city, and wounded many others, he said.
The fighting has led to the displacement of people from northern Daraa governorate to neighboring Quneitra governorate, as well as toward the border with Jordan. There are reports of restrictions on movement due to the increase in hostilities, he said.
The United Nations and its partners continue to deliver assistance despite the increase in hostilities, reaching hundreds of thousands of people in need each month from across the border in Jordan, said Haq.
The United Nations calls on all parties to take all necessary measures to safeguard civilian lives, allow freedom of movement, and to protect civilian infrastructure, as required by international humanitarian and human rights law, said the spokesman.