Civilians flee from Idlib to the north to find safety inside Syria near the border with Turkey, February 15, 2020. (Photos: AP)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is alarmed by the rapid deterioration of the humanitarian situation in northwestern Syria and the tragic suffering of civilians, said his spokesman on Tuesday. 
The ongoing offensive in northwestern Syria has displaced almost 900,000 civilians since December 1, often multiple times for individuals. Hundreds have been killed during the same period, said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, in a statement.   
Young children are dying from the cold. Hostilities are now approaching densely populated areas. People are on the move in freezing temperatures in search of safety which has become ever more difficult, said the statement.  
The secretary-general calls for an immediate ceasefire and respect for international humanitarian law, it said.   
There is no military solution. The only path to stability is a credible and inclusive UN-facilitated political solution, said the statement.

Syrians celebrate the victory of government forces in Aleppo Province, Syria, February 17, 2020.

Earlier Tuesday, Guterres' deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said incessant airstrikes and shelling continue to exact a heavy toll on the civilian population in Idlib and surrounding areas. 
On Monday, seven communities in Idlib and four communities in Aleppo governorates reportedly were struck by artillery shelling, while airstrikes affected 12 communities, Haq told a daily press briefing.   
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has also verified appalling incidents where camps for displaced persons – the very places where families have fled to seek safety – have been affected by bombardments, he said.   
He quoted the World Health Organization as saying that since December 1, dozens of health facilities have suspended services in the Idlib and Aleppo areas. Out of nearly 550 health facilities in northwestern Syria, only about half are operational.

Turkey to send more troops to Syria as talks continue

Tensions in northwestern Syria escalated in recent months as Syrian government forces intensified offensives to recapture Idlib, the last stronghold of Turkey-backed rebel groups. Turkish troops have entered the region in support of the rebels.

Syrians meet Turkish troops outside their base near the village of Binish, in Idlib Province, Syria, February 14, 2020. 

The conflicts could strain relations between Ankara and Moscow, a main ally of the Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad. 
After a second day of talks in Moscow on Tuesday, Russia and Turkey reiterated their commitment to existing agreements on Idlib which seek to reduce tensions in the region, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. 
The ministry statement did not mention Turkey's demand for Syrian government forces to pull back from the region, but said Idlib's long-term security could only be achieved through Syria's sovereignty and territorial independence. 
However, Turkish Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on Tuesday that the country will deploy more troops to Idlib and retaliate against attacks by Syrian government forces there, even as Ankara continues to discuss the situation with Moscow. 
"We will continue the deployment and fortification of troops in the area to ensure the safety of the region (Idlib) and the civilians there," Kalin told reporters in Ankara. 
(With input from Xinhua, Reuters)