Beirut, May 29, 2016 (AFP) – More than 6,000 civilians fled 24H in the advance of Islamic State group in the province of Aleppo taking refuge in the Kurdish-controlled areas in the northern region of Syria, reported Sunday the Syrian Observatory for fingers Rights (OSDH).
Friday, the Islamic State group (EI) cut the supply route between two strongholds of the rebellion in the region by taking villages between Marea and Azaz, 20 km further north.
“More than 6,000 civilians, mostly women and children, fled these villages Marea and fell the last two days in the hands of the EI”, told AFP the director of OSDH.
According to Rami Abdel Rahman, “the displaced arrived last night in areas west and northwest of Aleppo under control of Syrian Democratic Forces (FDS)”, an Arab-Kurdish alliance that fights on EI fronts in Syria.
The fighters of the IU, who want to take their strongholds for rebels of Azaz and Marea, are now only 5km from the second city, according to OSDH.
“There are only four medical staff at Al-Horriyya hospital, the only one in the city of Marea,” he told AFP an anesthetist of the institution who spoke on condition of anonymity .
Yehya, a nurse responsible for Assalama hospital in the north of Azaz for his part said that Doctors Without Borders had to evacuate patients and doctors in the hospital, fighting now taking place 3 km away.
“Our hospital is de facto closed except for emergency and relief,” said Yehya. He further pointed that “the new camps (for displaced people) are overcrowded and living conditions are precarious, without sanitation.”
The fighting left since Friday start of the offensive launched by the EI 47 deaths among the jihadist suicide bombers including 9 and 61 among the rebels and 29 civilians, according to OSDH which has a wide network of informants across the country.
In Aleppo itself, several areas of the city and areas to the north have been the target of violent Russian aerial bombings and the regime, according to OSDH.
Stéphane © armenews.com