United Nations, Feb 1 (IANS): The United Nations is urgently seeking ways to scale up aid in the face of reports of continuing airstrikes and shelling in northwest Syria that have claimed the lives of dozens, including women and children, a UN spokesman has said.

Recent reports indicate airstrikes and shelling continue in southern Idlib with frontlines moving quickly along the M5 highway towards Saraqeb, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The United Nations and humanitarian organizations are urgently looking at all options to increase humanitarian aid for displaced families, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Across numerous villages, dozens of civilians, including women and children, have reportedly been killed or injured in the fighting," Dujarric told reporters at a regular briefing. "Many medical facilities have suspended activities due to growing insecurity."

Humanitarian organizations are still trying to organize and support evacuations of people seeking to leave Ariha, Saraqeb and the surrounding areas, he said, adding that many civilians are leaving spontaneously by whatever means available.

In Idlib, an already dire situation is getting worse, the spokesman said. Families are traumatized and feel totally abandoned by the world. Their message is simple: "We are afraid. Please help us. Make it stop."

The United Nations urges all parties to the conflict to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure and to facilitate humanitarian activities without hindrance, he said. For humanitarian reasons and as a matter of international humanitarian law, human suffering must be minimized.