May 27, 2016 — Today’s advance of ISIS on Azaz, northern Syria, has trapped around 160,000 people in the town, with residents unable to flee to safety while Turkey’s border remains closed and exit roads have been blocked.
People are “terrified for their lives”, according to International Rescue Committee staff in Azaz. The IRC has also received confirmed reports that at least four entire families, including women and children, were killed today in the outskirts of the town.
The IRC runs centres for both children and women in Azaz as well as providing clean water and sanitation to a camp supporting 8,500 people. More than half the camp’s population have left to find safety elsewhere in the town.
The IRC has relocated its staff from the centres and camp to shelter in safer areas of Azaz until the situation enables them to return.