Since October 2nd, the liberated northern territories in Syria have been under ceaseless attack from the Assad regime and its Iranian and Russian allies. Monday through Wednesday, attacks were focused primarily on villages and towns of southern Idlib and western Aleppo. However Thursday through Saturday have seen an extreme and dangerous escalation as attacks have targeted the more densely populated areas of Idlib, Aleppo, and Hama, focusing on residential areas, schools, markets, public squares, and mosques.
In order to preserve lives and public safety the Syrian Salvation Government (SSG) took decisive action. Thursday the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Trusts released a statement that suspended Friday congregation prayers due to the established history of Assad and Russia for targeting places of worship (including Churches).
Friday, the Ministry of Education held an emergency meeting and decided to close all public and private schools and universities in the region until Monday 9 October, in the aftermath of attacks on no less than four schools and a well-documented pattern of attacks on schools by Russia and Assad.
The SSG Ministry of Development and Humanitarian Affairs took quick action to establish temporary shelters at several locations to provide refuge to families displaced from several cities and towns in the southern, eastern, and western Idlib countryside, and areas under bombardment, the SSG teams assisted in evacuation and relocation efforts alongside civil societies like the Syrian Civil Defense.
The SSG has built upon its experiences in rapid emergency response and crisis management, gained in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck the region eight months ago. Various members of the government, like from the Ministry of Health and other departments have visited the sites of attacks and local hospitals to directly oversee the efforts in protecting and easing the affairs of the people in the liberated territories in this time of crisis and need.
The SSG also released statements urging the people in all liberated areas, especially those exposed to Russian and regime bombing, to disperse all gatherings, take precautions, and evacuate the streets, asking them not to leave homes except for necessities and to make room for ambulances and rescue teams.
Thus far, since Thursday, more than 20 people have been killed, nearly half of whom were women and children, while over 100 have been injured with over half being women and children. The attacks are ongoing, with no action from the international community or aid organizations.
