Geneva, Sep 15 (IANS): The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Monday said it provided emergency relief for over 50,000 Syrian people amid the recently intensified clashes between Syrian government forces and the armed opposition in southwestern Syria.

The scaled-up fighting took place in Quneitra governorate, in Quneitra city in particular, where access to clean water, food, and health care is limited, and thousands of families were forced to flee to Rural Damascus.

Statistics from the humanitarian organisation showed that in the last ten days, more than 25,000 Quneitra residents have arrived in nearby Qatana, a town in the neighbouring governorate of Rural Damascus.

As fighting continued unabated, ICRC expected the number of internally displaced people fleeing from Quneitra to further grow, Xinhua reported.

The organisation has provided food parcels, mattresses and other essential items in partnership with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) in response to the latest wave of displacement, and over the weekend an ICRC-SARC convoy delivered emergency relief for 25,000 more displaced people.

Moreover, ICRC reminded all parties to the conflict of their obligation under international humanitarian law to protect and spare civilians at all times and ensure their access to essential services.