Attacks by Damascus Mercenaries and the Turkish Occupation Leave 120,000 Displaced and More Than 500 Missing in Aleppo

Attacks carried out by mercenaries of the transitional government in Damascus, alongside factions supported by the Turkish occupation, on the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Bani Zaid in the city of Aleppo have resulted in the displacement of at least 120,000 civilians and the loss of contact with more than 500 people, according to UN and human rights reports.

The attacks, which have been ongoing since the sixth of the current month, have led to serious humanitarian repercussions, including large-scale mass displacement and extensive destruction of civilian infrastructure, amid growing fears of a further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the city.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that approximately 120,000 people remain displaced to date, noting that most have sought refuge in neighboring areas that already suffer from a severe shortage of basic services.

The office indicated that the waves of displacement have exacerbated humanitarian needs, particularly in shelter, food, and healthcare, at a time when humanitarian organizations face significant difficulties in safely accessing affected populations due to the extensive damage to residential homes and service facilities.

For its part, the Afrin Human Rights Organization announced that the number of missing persons as a result of attacks by Damascus mercenaries and factions supported by the Turkish occupation has exceeded 500 people so far, based on documentation by its field teams and testimonies from victims’ families.

The organization confirmed that the fate of the missing persons remains unknown, amid growing fears that they may have been subjected to serious violations, including enforced detention or execution, noting that the attacks were accompanied by a state of security chaos and systematic violations against civilians.

The organization called for the opening of an independent international investigation to uncover the fate of the missing persons and hold those responsible for the crimes and violations accountable, stressing that impunity encourages the continued targeting of civilians.

These developments come as humanitarian organizations warn of a worsening humanitarian crisis in the city of Aleppo, amid the continued military escalation by Damascus mercenaries and the Turkish occupation against the areas of Deir Hafir and Maskanah, and the absence of any real guarantees to protect civilians or ensure the safe return of displaced people to their homes.