In Pictures

Death and destruction as Syria ceasefire buckles

More than 40,000 people have been displaced and scores killed as fighting erupts in parts of Syria despite truce.

A man rides on a motorbike as another one walks past damaged buildings in the rebel-controlled area of al-Nashabyia town in Eastern Ghouta. [Bassam Khabieh/Reuters]

21 Apr 2016

Intense fighting has left Syria’s partial ceasefire in tatters. The truce was brokered by the United States and Russia to pave the way for the first peace talks attended by rebel factions since the crisis began five years ago.

As fighting raged and air strikes on rebel-held areas intensified, the opposition urged foreign states to supply them with the means to defend themselves, a thinly veiled reference to the anti-aircraft weapons long sought by insurgents.

Air strikes killed about 40 people in a crowded market on Tuesday in what may have been the worst incident of its kind since the cessation of hostilities took effect in February.

More than 40,000 people in camps, residential areas and settlements have been displaced owing to fighting in recent days, most pushed eastwards towards the strategically vital border town of Azaz, as well as the Bab al-Salam and Sijjou camps for internally displaced people, the United Nations said.

A man inspects damaged shops after an air strike on a market in the town of Maarat al-Numan in the insurgent stronghold of Idlib province. [Ammar Abdullah/Reuters]

Civil defence members look for survivors after an air strike on parts of Aleppo city held by rebels. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]

Residents carry belongings they collected from their damaged homes as they walk during a return visit to the city of Palmyra. [Omar Sanadiki/Reuters]

Produce lies amid damaged shops after an air strike on a market in the town of Maarat al-Numan in the insurgent stronghold of Idlib province. [Ammar Abdullah/Reuters]

Women react to damage as they visit the city of Palmyra. [Omar Sanadiki/Reuters]

Harakat Nour al-Din al-Zenki fighters look out inside a damaged building in the Handarat area of northern Aleppo. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]

Men unload flour from a Red Crescent and United Nations aid convoy in the rebel-held besieged town of Hamoria, in the eastern suburbs of Damascus. [Bassam Khabieh/Reuters]

Men are seen covered with flour after unloading it from aid agencies in the eastern suburbs of Damascus. [Bassam Khabieh/Reuters]

Residents look for survivors amid the rubble after an air strike in old Aleppo. [Abdalrhman Ismail/Reuters]