More than 100,000 Syrians have fled their homes in southwest Deraa province in the face of a massive government offensive aimed at recapturing one of the last rebel strongholds in the country in what the UN has warned is a humanitarian “catastrophe”.

Residents told The Independent that the sound of Syrian helicopters and Russian warplanes could be heard constantly over the area.

Government troops have made steady progress in the ten-day-old operation under the cover of intense airstrikes and shelling. On Friday, Syrian state television showed opposition fighters giving up their weapons in several villages east and north of Deraa city.

Diane Abbott dodges question of whether Labour would ever back military action in Syria

“The situation is tragic and no one is safe,” said one activist who left the town of Masifra after a suspected Russian strike killed at least 17 people hiding in an makeshift bomb shelter on Thursday.

At least 98 civilians have been killed, according to war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, and five medical facilities are out of action.

The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein, warned that if a siege situation developed in Deraa city itself, civilians will be subjected to “catastrophe”, pleading for all sides to adhere to the de-escalation deal.

Deraa, one of the last majority rebel-held areas in the country, is technically part of a de-escalation deal brokered by the US, Russia and neighbouring Jordan in 2017. President Bashar al Assad and his Russian allies say the assault targets terrorists who are not part of the agreement.

Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Show all 20 1 /20 Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps This young child hides under the cover of endless white nylon tent sheeting from new visitors entering the camp. The hesitancy to engage soon passes and curiosity follows as he is interested to discover more about Muslim Aid. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps In Enmaa camp, Wardi takes a neighbour’s child onto her knee. She has 4 children of her own; they left Homs in 2013 after heavy bombardments and a lack of food. They travelled for 4 days to reach the border. Years on they still suffer acute hunger at times. Muslim Aid Food voucher scheme is literally sustaining and changing lives in these camps. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Taima, (Enmaa camp Lebanon) picks the very few flowers with her friends off the perimeter of the camp floor and hands them to a member of the Muslim Aid team. These acts of kindness are so incredibly powerful to see. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Zaynab currently lives in Suleyman camp in Mohamra, Lebanon in a small tent housing 15 people in two rooms. Zaynab fled Syria in 2013 and travelled through fields and mountains to reach the Lebanese border, traumatised by the fear of planes, bombs and grenades. The family are currently in great need of food and gas. Bread has become very expensive and inaffordable. In her tent was a basket of bread that was stale and mouldy. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Sumayya, Murfat’s youngest sister, peers out from their tent. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps A father attempts to create some normality by teaching his youngest son how to ride his first bike in between the network of tents and alleyways in the camp. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Malik 8 and Hazayfa 5 at Suleyman camp are amongst those fortunate to benefit from schools nearby offering classes after normal hours. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Mothers and wives are left to spend their days in the camps with memories of losing husbands fathers and sons causing in Syria and during their journey to the safety of neighbouring countries such as Lebanon and Jordan. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps It is truly amazing the defiance and resilience these children to show that they refuse to give up smiling regardless of how terrible their journey was that brought them to Enmaa camp. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Suleyman camp, Lebanon - many people have medical issues and can’t afford treatment, so cash is desperately needed to provide this support. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Murfat 3, lives with her mother and sister in a shelter provided. Their clothes, damp from the morning showers, left to dry in the porch of the tent by the air which is warm and thick with flies. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Mohammed, 2, Suleyman camp, Lebanon. There are 250,000 Syrian refugees in northern Lebanon alone. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Al Inmar camp, Lebanon. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Malaak, 11, in Suleyman camp, Lebanon. Here children are living in tents which leak in the rain and are too flimsy to shield them from the cold in winter. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps 16 yr old Homam in front of his mobile phone repair business as a result of micro-finance loan from Muslim Aid. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps A young girl looks out across the geography of Enmaa Camp and beyond to the horizon of the coastline. The 250 tents have been squeezed onto a small plot of land amongst a smart residential neighbourhood and acres of poly tunnels growing fruit and vegetables. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Hayaan, just 3 year-old, in Suleyman camp, Lebanon, makes the sign for victory or peace. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps White chalked lines replaced by empty oil drums fashioned into makeshift rubbish bins mark out the perimeter of the pitch. Hamaad, 8 years-old, likes to play football in the wasteland around the tents. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Many of Sulayman’s residents had previously been surviving on donated bags of mouldy bread and some even fasting voluntarily long before the start of Ramadan. Paddy Dowling Syrian families waiting in the shadows of Lebanon's refugee camps Sumaha, 10 years-old (Suleyman camp in Lebanon), talks to us with her friends before they leave the camp to attend a class at a nearby school. Photos Paddy Dowling

The campaign mirrors similar operations in recent months which have driven out the last of the Syrian opposition from the Homs countryside and East Ghouta - both also designated de-escalation zones.

Leaflets dropped on Deraa city, which is divided into government and rebel-controlled areas, warned residents the army was coming and urged civilians to “kick out the terrorists as your brothers did in eastern Ghouta”.

The UN estimates up to 120,000 civilians have fled the violence since the operation began on 19 June, headed towards miserable makeshift settlements in open areas on the borders with Jordan and Israel.

“Some people are sleeping under trees, others in their cars and some are setting up tents,” said opposition activist Jalal al-Ahmad.

Reports in Syrian media said some rebel fighters were refusing to let civilians pass through checkpoints without paying fees of several hundred dollars.

Rights groups have called on Amman to open the border with Jordan to people in need of protection, The country – which hosts at least 630,000 refugees – closed all crossing points after a checkpoint bomb killed seven Jordanian soldiers in 2016.

Many ordinary Jordanians have expressed a desire to help: the hashtags “Open the border” and “We will give them bread” have been trending on social media.

Scenes of devastation in Syria after deadly shelling and airstrikes and eastern Ghouta

Israel has no asylum policy for citizens of Syria – a country with which it does not have diplomatic relations – but does provide medical assistance and aid for both fighters and civilians near its borders.