Syrian army carrying out 'major military operation' in Deraa

Reliable sources indicate the Syrian army is carrying out a major operation in the city at the centre of popular protests against the country's Government, firing at unarmed civilians, preventing medical personnel from helping the wounded, raiding mosques and arresting many others, a top United Nations official told the Security Council Wednesday.

B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told Council members that the UN is requesting urgent access to the southern city of Deraa so that it can assess the humanitarian needs on the ground.

"There are reported shortages of medicine, water and food, and this could become a major humanitarian issue in the coming days," Mr. Pascoe said in his briefing, a day after Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also discussed the issue with the Council.

"Reputable reports" from both the media and human rights groups indicate that between 350 and 400 anti-Government demonstrators, many of them peaceful and unarmed, have been killed across Syria by security forces and their supporters since mid-March, according to Mr. Pascoe.

While the Government had made promises to reform in the wake of the demonstrations, and has lifted the state of emergency in place since 1963, it has also dramatically intensified its crackdown against opponents, particularly after last Friday's protests, he said.

Mr. Pascoe said the army started a "major military operation" in Deraa and surrounding villages, with tanks and large numbers of soldiers entering the area.

"Given the siege-like conditions, it is difficult to confirm our information, but reliable sources are consistently reporting the use of artillery fire against unarmed civilians; door-to-door arrest campaigns; the shooting of medical personnel who attempt to aid the wounded; raids against hospitals, clinics and mosques; and the purposeful destruction of medical supplies and arrest of medical personnel."

The UN has confirmed that electricity, communication systems and water in Deraa have been cut since ! Monday, forcing the closure of schools and health-care facilities operated by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in the city.

Elsewhere, the towns of Douma, Al-Moadamiyah and Banias were also surrounded by tanks and armed forces, while there have been reports that security forces have opened fire on protesters in Jableh, killing at least 13 people in that city.

Mr. Pascoe noted that "there have been credible reports of a very few instances where protesters have used force, resulting in the deaths of members of the security forces [but] there are no confirmed reports that this is a recurring phenomenon."

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