UN Chief 'Alarmed' By Syria Violence, Calls For End To Fighting

As of November 30, more than 48,500 people had been displaced in Idlib and northern Aleppo, more than half of them children, the UN says (Credit: AFP)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday he was "alarmed" by the escalation of violence in Syria and called for an immediate end to fighting that his organization says has displaced nearly 50,000 people.

"All parties must do their utmost to protect civilians and civilian objects, including by allowing safe passage to civilians who are fleeing hostilities," Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.