The head of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has deplored the deaths of journalists Vedat Erdemci and Abdul Hameed al-Yousef, who were killed in northern Syria on 11 October and 10 November respectively.
“I condemn the killing of journalists Abdul Hameed al-Yousef and Vedat Erdemci," said UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay.
"The heavy toll paid by journalists in Syria is intolerable and I remind all parties of their obligation to protect the lives of journalists and civilians in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.”
According to media reports, Erdemci, an independent documentary filmmaker of Turkish nationality, was killed in an air strike in the border town of Ras al-Ain shortly after working on a report about Yezidi children who had been detained by the Islamic State jihadist group.
Al-Yousef, a photographer and image reporter in the Kafr Rumah media office in Idleb province, was killed by artillery fire with at least six other civilians.
Turkey on 9 October launched a deadly military operation in northeast Syria to drive Syrian Kurdish forces back from its border which has forced over 200,000 people from their homes amid allegations of war crimes.
