A family flees Ma’arat al-Num’an in northwest Syria amid Russia and regime attacks, December 23, 2019

UPDATE, 1430 GMT:

A Russian-regime airstrike has struck an evacuation convoy, taking civilians from the Ma’arat al-Num’an area.

The atrike was north of the city, between Maaret and Ariha. The convoy was organized by Kids Paradise, a humanitarian agency supporting children in Idlib Province, which is organizing evacuations at great risk to its personnel.

UPDATE, 1145 GMT:

Pro-Assad warplanes have struck another camp for displaced Syrians in Idlib Province, as more civilians flee a Russian-regime offensive.

Earlier today Russia and the regime told the UN of a bombing pause, until 6 p.m. local time, for evacuation routes north of Ma’arat al-Num’an — but the camp, is outside the area.

UPDATE, 1030 GMT:

According to humanitarian workers and the White Helmets civil defense, more than 210,000 people have been displaced in the past week in southeast Idlib Province by Russian-regime attacks.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Russia and the Assad regime have forced another 120,000 Syrians to flee their homes, as an offensive prepares to occupy a long-time site of resistance in northwest Syria.

Aid workers spoke further to EA on Monday about the flight from Ma’arat al-Num’an, a city of 70,000, and the surrounding area. Risking attacks by Russian and Syrian warplanes, convoys of displaced headed further north into Idlib Province, the last major opposition territory in Syria.

One worker, “Ahmad”, said Ma’arat al-Num’an — a site of opposition both to the Assad regime and to the hardline Islamist bloc Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham — could be occupied by the offensive on Tuesday.

Another activist said on Monday night:

Ma’arat al-Numan almost empty now. People on the roads and mountains, waiting to be evacuated. Our team working frantically. But situation so so dangerous with airstrikes.

Many of the newly-displaced are living in the open, some in olive groves amid the Syrian winter. Aid agencies are trying to get water, food, and blankets to them, days after Russia vetoed further UN cross-border assistance.

Newly-displaced women and children, forced to flee by Russia-regime attacks, in northwest Syria, December 23, 2019

Newly-displaced women and children, forced to flee by Russia-regime attacks, in northwest Syria, December 23, 2019

Since the Russia-regime offensive began in late April, more than 600,000 people have been driven from their homes. More than 1,100 civilians have been killed and thousands wounded, as the attacks occupied part of southern Idlib and almost all of neighboring northern Hama Province.

Russian President Vladimir Putin paused the offensive, which shattered a Russian-Turkish “de-escalation zone”, in early September. But Russian and regime bombing resumed in November, killing scores more civilians with attacks on sites such as markets, hospitals, and displaced persons’ camps. The assault escalated just over a week ago in the effort to empty and seize Ma’arat al-Num’an.

The greater Idlib area is home to more than 3 million people, about 20% of the remaining population of Syria.

“So Much Injustice and Suffering”

The Humanitarian Relief Organization, based in Turkey, said it has begun distributing 20,000 packages of food between the city of Idlib, 33 km (21 miles) from Ma’arat al-Num’an, and the town of Sarmada.

A spokesman said a new camp will be established near the Turkish border. But for now it has only 500 tents.

Turkey, which hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees, closed its border in 2016 to more arrivals.

Ankara sent its troops into northern Syria alongside rebels in August 2016, initially to push out the Islamic State and then to take much of the Kurdish canton of Afrin. But, despite a ring of 12 observation posts around Idlib and northern Hama, Turkey has made little effort to check Russia and the regime.

A Turkish delegation was in Russia on Monday for talks.

An aid worker, “Laila”, said to EA on Monday:

I cannot stop crying. I don’t understand how this is possible.

I’m trying to speak to the Syrian friends and encourage them. Telling them that they can never be broken and defeated because of their bravery.

But how can they live in so much pain? So much injustice and suffering.

A makeshift Christmas tree in a displaced persons camps in northwest Syria, December 2019

A makeshift Christmas tree in a displaced persons camps in northwest Syria, December 2019