Two bombs were detonated in northern Syria on Tuesday, 22 November of this year. Information given by the local authorities stated that the first detonation took place in Al-Bab City within the Aleppo governorate. The explosion at a local bus station left approximately 18 people wounded and five dead. Among the affected were civilians.
That same day, a second bomb exploded in a frequently used avenue in the Aleppo district. This particular attack cost the lives of two people and severely injured 15 others. UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, Imran Riza, condemned the attack and stated that it was unconsolable that after nine years of prolonged conflict the current situation in Syria seems to keep getting worse.
Turkish military officials mentioned that the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) are to blame for both of the explosions. Sp far, none of the armed groups have claimed the bombings. However, as Syrian groups allied to the Turkish military have control of the affected areas, it is more than likely that the groups were responsible for the attacks.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), has stated that in just one year more than 20 violent incidents have led to mass civilian casualties in the city of Al-Bab. In fact, one month ago, on 6 October, 18 civilians were killed by another deadly bomb. Amongst the dead were five children and at least 75 persons were wounded.
The OCHA has stressed that the conflict in Syria is “far from over” since the increasing violence has intertwined with the COVID-19 pandemic. The infection rate has reached a total of 8,233 and continues to rise. Lack of work, increasing violence, and the spread of the pandemic have caused people to resort to dangerous coping strategies.
Practices like child labour, forced and child marriage, and other exploitative actions are being performed in hopes of surviving. The OCHA has stated that, as of now, there are 11 million people who are in need of humanitarian assistance. Due to the ongoing violence, the most at risk are children, women, people with disabilities, and the elderly population.
To learn more, please read:
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/11/1078482
Author: Sergio Gomez; Editor: Aleksandra Krol
