The United Nations’ humanitarian chief Valerie Amos says that Syrian civilians continue to be victims of “flagrant” violations of basic international law and human rights as a result of the foreign-backed militancy ravaging Syria.
Amos, the UN’s under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, voiced concern over the targeting of Syrian civilians, as well as the human rights abuses they are subjected to.
Attacks on medical facilities are at their highest levels, the UN official said.
She added that vital services, including the main water pumping station in Aleppo, had been targeted, interrupting the supply of clean water.
“Almost one million people remain without safe drinking water, in temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius,” she said
Last week, Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, the head of the Independent UN Commission of Inquiry for Syria, said that the al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group ISIL had committed gross human rights violations in the country.
Violence has gripped Syria for more than three years, leaving over 160,000 people dead and millions of others displaced.
According to the UN commission, there are between 10,000 and 15,000 foreigners working with militant groups fighting against the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, causing great numbers of civilian casualties.
According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.
