Syrian refugees arrive at the Jlaighem crossing in the eastern countryside of Homs Province, Syria, on June 19, 2019. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)

Following reports of airstrikes hitting several areas in northwest Syria over the weekend, the United Nations is deeply concerned for the safety of more than 3 million civilians in the region, half of whom have been displaced from their homes, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday.

Airstrikes in the last few days reportedly hit dozens of communities across Idlib, Hama, Aleppo and Latakia governorates, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "The UN remains deeply concerned."

Syrian refugees arrive at the Jlaighem crossing after they left the Rukban camp, in the eastern countryside of Homs Province, Syria, on May 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani)

"We continue to call on all parties to the conflict to do their utmost to ensure the safety and well-being of civilians in the conduct of military operations and strictly follow international humanitarian law principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution."

In the last few weeks alone, up to 60,000 people have been displaced due to hostilities, adding to the more than 400,000 people who had been displaced earlier this year, the spokesman told a regular briefing.

Displaced children have a meal at a school that has been turned into a shelter in Hasakah Province, Syria, on Oct. 21, 2019. (Str/Xinhua)

More than six months on, clashes, and shelling and airstrikes have taken a devastating toll on critical civilian infrastructure in the area, damaging schools, hospitals and other critical civilian infrastructure, he said.