UN: Syria's Idlib could face worst catastrophe this century

This photo released by the al-Qaida-affiliated Ibaa News Agency, shows smoke rising over buildings that were hit by airstrikes, in al-Sahan village, in the northern province of Idlib. Photo / AP

A top United Nations official has warned that an attack on rebel-held areas in Syria's Idlib in coming months could lead to this century's worst loss of life.

Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock's comments in Geneva came days after Iran and Russia backed a military campaign in the rebel-held area despite Turkey's pleas for a ceasefire.

More than 30,000 people have so far fled their homes since the air and ground bombardments resumed last week, according to the UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Lowcock said an all-out military assault could force 800,000 people to flee.

About 2.9 million people live in the opposition-held area, which comprises most of Idlib province and adjacent small parts of Latakia, Hama and Aleppo provinces. Around half of them are already displaced from other parts of Syria.

The forces of President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russia and Iran, have been massing troops for weeks in preparation for an attack on Idlib province.

Government forced dropped leaflets on the area in recent weeks calling on rebels to lay down their weapons and reconcile with the state or face a crushing offensive.

"Our top line message is there needs to be ways of dealing with this problem that don't turn the next few months in Idlib into the worst humanitarian catastrophe, with the biggest loss of life of the 21st century," Lowcock said.

- AP