Syrian Negotiations Commission chief on Idlib

A Syrian opposition leader called on the international community on Friday to help millions of people in the last rebel stronghold in the country's northwest amid a crushing government offensive.

After weeks of intense bombardment, Syrian government forces launched a ground offensive on southern and eastern parts of Idlib province last week, forcing tens of thousands of people to flee their homes.

"We declare them disaster areas and they should be dealt with accordingly," said Nasr Hariri, who heads the High Negotiations Committee.

He added that work should be done in order to reach a permanent cease-fire in Idlib not a truce that would crumble later.

Idlib, which is dominated by al-Qaida-linked militants, is also home to 3 million civilians.

Hariri said large numbers of people are fleeing toward the Turkish border in what could trigger a new refugee crisis.

The United Nations has warned of the growing risk of a humanitarian catastrophe along the Turkish border.

The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that as a result of hostilities more than 235,000 people have been displaced between Dec. 12 and 25.