Nearly 40,000 people have fled their homes in the Syrian province of Idlib over the past two weeks, as fears of a devastating government offensive remain high despite a brief lull in air strikes.
The number of displaced people has grown by around 8,000 since Monday, coming amid more dire warnings from aid groups and the international community about the impact of a government attack.
Panos Moumtzis, United Nations regional humanitarian coordinator for the Syria crisis, said Thursday that the GPS coordinates of more than 200 protected sites – including hospitals and schools – had been shared with Russia and Turkey.
"A hospital is a hospital and has to be respected by all on the ground," Mr Mountzis said, adding that four health facilities had been hit by air strikes in the past week alone.
The Syrian government has promised to recapture the entirety of the rebel-held province, and its forces have surrounded the area over the past few weeks. Speculation that an attack was imminent began earlier this month when Russian jets resumed air strikes and government forces continued shelling after a respite.
The UN has said the battle for Idlib could provoke the “worst humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st Century” and has revised upwards its estimate of the number of people who could be displaced in the event of a ground offensive from 800,000 to 900,000. The UN Special Envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is to host senior officials from Egypt, France, Germany, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Britain and the US about the crisis in Geneva on Friday.
Around 38,500 people have already fled to areas further north, closer to the Turkish border. But the situation remains fluid, with around 4,500 having "spontaneously returned,” according to the UN humanitarian agency.
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That confusion is likely to continue for some time, as nearly three million civilians in Idlib await their fate. The past three days have seen a brief lull in bombardment, raising speculation that the Syrian government may not yet be ready to launch an attack.
Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said Thursday that Ankara was “working intensively with Russia, Iran and our allies” to prevent an attack and stabilise the rebel-held region, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.
Mr Moumtzis, the UN official, quoted a Russian official as saying that "every effort to find a peaceful solution to the problem is being made." But alternatives to a diplomatic alternative appear to have dimmed following failed talks between Russia, Turkey and Iran last week.
Turkey has a significant military presence in Idlib and backs a number of rebel groups there. Ankara is desperate to avoid an attack that would send another wave of refugees to its borders – it currently hosts 3.5 million Syrians.
But complicating matters is the presence of former Al Qaeda affiliate Hayat Tahrir Al Sham (HTS), whose estimated 10,000 fighters control around two thirds of the province.
Turkey and Russia both agree that HTS cannot stay, but Turkey is advocating a more careful approach.
Since talks failed to find a solution last week, Turkey has sought to deter the Syrian government through the bolstering of its military capabilities and that of its allies.
A senior rebel commander told Reuters on Wednesday that Turkey had pledged “complete military support for a long, protracted battle” and sent significant shipments of weapons and ammunition. Activists also reported seeing Turkey reinforcing its military observation posts inside the province.
“Turkey is attempting to discourage an attack on Idlib through a number of means. One is diplomacy and negotiation with its Astana co-sponsors Iran and Russia, but another is shoring up Idlib’s rebels so Damascus and its allies understand an offensive will come at a real cost,” said Sam Heller, a senior analyst at Crisis Group.
Meanwhile, France reiterated a warning to Assad’s regime on Thursday against using chemical weapons.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the use of banned substances would be a “red line” that would have consequences.
The US has made similar warnings in recent weeks.
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
FA Cup semi-finals
Saturday: Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur, 8.15pm (UAE)
Sunday: Chelsea v Southampton, 6pm (UAE)
Matches on Bein Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
RACE SCHEDULE
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday, September 29
First practice: 7am - 8.30am
Second practice: 11am - 12.30pm
Saturday, September 30
Qualifying: 1pm - 2pm
Sunday, October 1
Race: 11am - 1pm
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
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More on Quran memorisation:
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth