Assault in Syria threatens mass displacement

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's army, with support from Russian air power, has stepped up its attacks on the northwestern province, the country's last major opposition bastion and home to more than 3 million Syrians.

The government has said that it is targeting terrorists in Idlib. But if the violence continues, hundreds of thousands of civilians could be displaced in the coming weeks, international aid organizations warn.

At least 100,000 people had already been forced to flee their homes in Idlib in the space of just five days, the International Rescue Committee said Monday. It warned that another half a million people could be displaced in the coming weeks.

Rehana Zawar, the IRC's country director for northwest Syria, has urged the UN Security Council to restart negotiations on a cross-border resolution before it is too late.

"Most of the 400,000 who were displaced during the offensive back in April are still living in informal, overcrowded settlements -- many of which lack access to even the most basic services, such as toilets or clean water," Zawar said.

Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul on Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country, which already shelters the most Syrian refugees in the world, cannot handle a fresh wave of migrants and "will not bear" the burden alone.