Two hospitals and 14 health centres in northern Syria have been forced to close because of increasing conflict in the area, sparking fears for thousands of citizens.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it is concerned about the conditions for people living in Idlib as the Syrian government launched a major offensive against the opposition stronghold.

Tens of thousands of citizens have fled the area as the Assad regime launched repeated airstrikes just before Christmas.

According to the WHO, 2.7m people living in northwest Syria need access to healthcare, 500,000 of whom are in Idlib.

It said 14 primary health care centres and two hospitals have been closed due to the conflict.

Syrian government offensive in Idlib Show all 8 1 /8 Syrian government offensive in Idlib Syrian government offensive in Idlib Syrians, including a member of the White Helmets civil defence rescue teams, run for cover during an air strike by pro-regime forces on the market town of Kfar Ruma in Syria's southwestern Idlib province, on May 30, 2019. - Regime forces and their Russian allies have over the past three months escalated bombardment of Syria's last major jihadist bastion in the province of Idlib and adjacent areas AFP/Getty Syrian government offensive in Idlib Syrian rescue teams and civilians search for survivors amid the rubble in a freshly bombarded area following a reported air strike by regime forces and their allies on the market town of Kfar Ruma in Syria's southwestern Idlib province, on May 30, 2019. - Regime forces and their Russian allies have over the past three months escalated bombardment of Syria's last major jihadist bastion in the province of Idlib and adjacent areas. AFP/Getty Syrian government offensive in Idlib Syrian rescue teams and civilians search for survivors amid the rubble in a freshly bombarded area following a reported air strike by regime forces and their allies on the market town of Kfar Ruma in Syria's southwestern Idlib province, on May 30, 2019. - Regime forces and their Russian allies have over the past three months escalated bombardment of Syria's last major jihadist bastion in the province of Idlib and adjacent areas AFP/Getty Syrian government offensive in Idlib Syrian rescue teams and civilians look for survivors in a heavily damaged area following a reported air strike by regime forces and their allies on the market town of Kfar Ruma in Syria's southwestern Idlib province, on May 30, 2019. - Regime forces and their Russian allies have over the past three months escalated bombardment of Syria's last major jihadist bastion in the province of Idlib and adjacent areas. AFP/Getty Syrian government offensive in Idlib This photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Civil Defense workers searching for victims under the rubble of a destroyed building after an airstrike by Syrian government forces, Maaret al-Numan, a town in south Idlib, Syria, Thursday, May 30, 2019. Rescue workers and activists say at least five, including three from the same family, have been killed in Syria's last rebel stronghold when warplanes targeted the building they live in, leveling it. AP Syrian government offensive in Idlib A Syrian girl cries as she runs for cover during an air strike by pro-regime forces on the market town of Kfar Ruma in Syria's southwestern Idlib province, on May 30, 2019. - Regime forces and their Russian allies have over the past three months escalated bombardment of Syria's last major jihadist bastion in the province of Idlib and adjacent areas. AFP/Getty Syrian government offensive in Idlib Syrians run for cover during an air strike by pro-regime forces on the market town of Kfar Ruma in Syria's southwestern Idlib province, on May 30, 2019. - Regime forces and their Russian allies have over the past three months escalated bombardment of Syria's last major jihadist bastion in the province of Idlib and adjacent areas. AFP/Getty Syrian government offensive in Idlib A man rescues a child while members of the Syrian civil defence known as the White Helmets search the area for survivors following following a reported air strike by regime forces and their allies on Maaret al-Noman in Syria's southwestern Idlib province. AFP/Getty

Al Salam Hospital’s maternity services have been fully suspended with staff evacuated on 20 December while Al Ma’ra National Hospital was evacuated and closed on 23 December.

Two haemodialysis centres in Ma’aret al-Noman and Babilla were also closed, leaving about 35 patients in need of life-saving blood filtration treatment.

The WHO has warned if the bombing and conflict continues, a further 42 health facilities in and around Idlib are at risk of suspending their services.

The organisation said shortages of drugs, medical supplies and healthcare workers will further aggravate the situation, leaving hundreds of thousands without access to essential healthcare services.

Dr Richard Brennan, director of health emergencies for WHO’s eastern Mediterranean region said: “The recent military escalation in this area has resulted in the loss of lives, injuries and exacerbated the suffering of civilians, displacing more than 130,000, including women, children and elderly.

“Some have been displaced three times during the nine years of the Syrian conflict.”

He added: “We are supporting mobile health teams, have distributed pre-positioned health kits and supplies, extended support for mental health services and will continue to do what we can to ensure health and protect the vulnerable.”