Tens of thousands of civilians have fled their homes since Turkey launched a military operation against Kurdish forces in northern Syria, the UN refugee agency has said. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that more than 60,000 people have been displaced since Wednesday. Dozens of aid workers also joined the exodus, crossing the border into Turkey after their organisations ordered a widespread evacuation in anticipation of an expanded Turkish push.
Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees, warned that "hundreds of thousands of civilians in northern Syria are now in harm's way." He called on all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and provide access for aid agencies. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces also cautioned of an "imminent humanitarian catastrophe."
Nato's secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, and the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, appealed to Turkey to avoid further destabilising the region. Juncker pointed out that the EU contributes €6bn (£5.4bn) to Turkey to support Syrian refugees, adding, "If the Turkish plan involves the creation of a so-called safe zone, don't expect the European Union to pay for any of it." Stoltenberg acknowledged Turkey's legitimate security concerns but stressed the importance of avoiding actions that could escalate tensions.
Aid agencies expressed deep concern for the 2 million civilians in north-east Syria who have already survived Islamic State brutality and multiple displacements. The International Rescue Committee warned that a military offensive could displace 300,000 people and disrupt life-saving services. Amnesty International also cautioned against indiscriminate attacks, noting that both Turkish and Kurdish forces have a track record of killing civilians in Syria. Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty's Middle East research director, stated, "Turkey has an obligation under international humanitarian law to take all possible measures to protect civilians and to ensure they have access to humanitarian aid."
