The humanitarian crisis in Syria is getting worse.

According to United Nations statistics, up to 2.5 million Syrians are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

Fierce fighting broke out on August 22 between government forces and the Syrian opposition in the south of the capital Damascus, killing at least 37 people. The Syrian State News Agency (SANA) cited an official source as saying that government forces fought an armed terrorist group in the suburbs of Damascus, confiscating many weapons and discovering a bomb-making facility.

In the battlegrounds of Aleppo and Daraa, witnesses said fierce fighting continued. Opposition forces claimed to have taken control of an intelligence office and a checkpoint in the town of Albu Kamal, which borders Iraq. However, in reality, government forces still hold most of the town.

Syrians at Zaatari refugee camp, outside the northern Jordanian city of Mafraq, near the border with Syria, receive aid from a humanitarian organization (Photo: AFP)

Faced with the complicated developments in Syria, the United Nations on August 22 also accused Iran of providing weapons to the Syrian army, financial and intelligence support... to repel the rebel forces. This accusation was made by the West with concerns that the crisis and bloody violence that has lasted for more than 17 months has pushed Syria deeper into a civil war.

Mr. Jeffrey Feltman, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, in his speech at the Security Council meeting emphasized: “Violence is continuing in Syria and can be described as escalating in some areas. Both government forces and opposition forces have intensified military actions. The Syrian people are victims of these fierce clashes. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his concern about the crisis situation in Syria, saying that some actions have violated the UN Charter.”

Russia has urged the West not to try to complicate the Syrian issue with statements hinting at possible military action against Damascus. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the only thing the international community should do now is to create the necessary foundations for starting dialogue and not to intervene from outside in Syria.

The United Nations also said that more than 18,000 people have been killed and about 170,000 have fled to neighboring countries to escape the violence. After a discussion at the Security Council on August 22, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos announced the serious humanitarian crisis in Syria. She said that Syria is seriously lacking in health services, sanitation systems, safe housing, food and drinking water...

“I am deeply concerned that the Syrian factions have failed to comply with international human rights law to protect civilians. The crisis and violence in Syria is increasingly devastating. I have witnessed Syrian civilians, including women and children, caught in the middle of fierce fighting. I once again emphasize the call to the Syrian factions to respect civilians and comply with international humanitarian law,” Ms. Valerie emphasized.

In a press release on August 23, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the Chinese government will provide 30 million yuan (4.76 million USD) in emergency humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. The aid will be divided into two tranches and will soon be transferred to Jordan and Lebanon to help the governments of the two countries resolve the Syrian refugee issue and improve their living conditions./.

According to VOV - DT