Britain's UN ambassador Karen Pierce has accused Russia of a "lack of humanity" in Syria, as the UN revealed that more than half of the nearly million people displaced in Idlib province by the escalating conflict are children.

She told Sky News the UN had been given "a very sobering and frightening humanitarian briefing" on the current civilian crisis in the nine-year civil war.

It says 900,000 people are in "grave danger" in Syria's Idlib province, as freezing conditions add to the war-torn population's woes. Around 60% of those who have fled the region since 1 December are children.

Inside Idlib: Life Under Siege

Her comments came days after Sky News gained rare access to northwest Syria, where special correspondent Alex Crawford found indiscriminate bombing of civilian targets, thousands of displaced people fleeing violence and what she described as "obvious war crimes".

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Russia's Vladimir Putin to "restrain" the Syrian government, in a phone call between the two leaders on Friday.


He also called for a ceasefire between Turkish and Russian military forces in Idlib.

Ms Pierce, who has been critical of Russia's conduct in the conflict, accused Moscow of abusing the UN's veto system to "protect" Syrian leader Bashar al Assad, who she said was "attacking his own people".

She has called on Moscow and Damascus to end "indiscriminate and inhumane attacks" in northwest Syria that are killing and injuring innocent civilians.

Image: 60% of the 900,000 people who have fled Idlib province are children, says the UN

The British diplomat said the UN was "very ready to do what we can to back a UN-led ceasefire" - "but Russia needs to agree" and to "persuade the Russians to let-up on the bombardment of Idlib".

"The UN wants to act. And 13 members of the Security Council want to act. But we are stopped from acting because of Russia, supported by China," she said.

"That's the main thing - to get the Russians to restrain the Syrians and stop aiding them in the bombings that they are doing, including the bombing of hospitals which is against the Geneva Convention."

She said the "absolute priority is a cessation of hostilities as soon as possible".

Idlib: 'Russians show lack of humanity'

"Russia and the Syria regime don't really care what price has to be paid by civilians," she said, accusing Assad of holding up medical supplies in order to regain control of rebel-strongholds across the country.

"If Assad can't put right the problems that led to the crisis in 2011-2012 then Syria will never be stable, and the government of Syria will never be able to govern the whole of Syria.

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

"So there are some very pressing, long-term questions to sort out as well as these immediate short-term needs," added Ms Pierce, who is soon to take up her new role as the UK's ambassador to the United States.

On Friday, Russia floated the possibility of a summit on Syria with France, Germany and Turkey, while Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan asked the French and German leaders to provide "concrete" support in helping to bring to an end the escalating crisis.

Syria: 'Nowhere is hearing us crying'

He said Turkey would not be withdrawing its forces from Idlib, but was continuing to work on a 30-35km (18-22 miles) "safe zone" for migrants along its border with Syria.

Moscow and Ankara's response followed calls from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.