Statement by the HR/VP Federica Mogherini and EU Commissioner for Humanitarian aid and Crisis management Christos Stylianides on the attack on a refugee camp in northern Syria

Air strikes left dozens of civilians dead and injured in the northern Syrian Governorate of Idleb on the 5 May 2016 - the two settlements hit were occupied by refugees displaced from their homees by the conflict in Syria.

Stephen O'Brien, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs at the United Nations called for an immediate, impartial and independent investigation into the attacks. He said that 'All parties to this appalling conflict should understand that they will one day be held accountable for violations of international humanitarian and human rights law'.

Reports said that the strike on the rebel-held area was by Syrian or Russian planes but this had not been confirmed.

In a statement by the HR/VP Federica Mogherini and EU Commissioner for Humanitarian aid and Crisis management Christos Stylianides they said that 'The reports of many casualties following an attack on a refugee camp in northern Syria today, shows that the most vulnerable people continue be the first victims of the conflict.

Refugee camps should be a place where those most in need can find sanctuary from conflict, not targets of violence.

Attacks on refugee camps are unacceptable and constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law'.

• Primary Source

EU: EEAS: The EU and Syria http://eeas.europa.eu/syria/

ESO: Background information: Saving Syria's ceasefire http://www.europeansources.info/record/saving-syrias-ceasefire/

ESO: Background information: Statement by the HR/VP Federica Mogherini on the situation in Syria http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-by-the-hr-vp-federica-mogherini-on-the-situation-in-syria/

UN: UN News Centre, 05.05.16: Syria: UN relief chief calls for probe into air strikes that left dozens dead in Idleb http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=53868#.VyxCp4QrKUk

---