UN says "preparing for worst" from Turkey's Syria operation
The United Nations said Monday it was “preparing for
the worst” in northeast Syria after the United States said it would step aside
to allow for Turkish military operations in the area, USA Today Post reported.
“We don’t know what is going to happen… we are
preparing for the worst,” UN regional humanitarian coordinator for Syria, Panos
Moumtzis, said in Geneva, stressing that there were “a lot of unanswered
questions” about the consequences of the operation.
Moumtzis added that the UN was “in contact with all
sides” on the ground.
But he made clear his office did not have advance
warning about the US decision that effectively abandons the Kurds, who were
Washington’s main ally in the long battle against the so-called Daesh group.
Moumtzis said the UN’s priorities were to ensure that
any prospective Turkish offensive not result in new displacements, that
humanitarian access remain unhindered and that no restrictions be put in place
on freedom of movement.
The UN has a contingency plan to address additional
civilian suffering, but “hopes that will not be used,” Moumtzis said.
