The Idlib region of some three million people has suffered increased regime and Russian air strikes in recent weeks, with hundreds of civilians killed since late April. To keep up, civil defence workers known as the White Helmets are digging graves in advance, to ensure funerals are swift and the few who attend are not killed at the cemetery.

Hounded by war planes, Syrians dig Idlib graves in advance

More than 18,000 people, nearly half of them civilians, have been killed in Russian air strikes on Syria since Moscow began its game-changing intervention three years ago, a monitor said.

Three years of Russia strikes on Syria kill 18,000: Monitor

Russian and Syrian planes have agreed to extend the halt in Aleppo bombings, that has been in place for the last eight days

Russia extends moratorium on Aleppo air strikes

A minister branded Western media reports on Omran as a 'cynical exploitation' of the tragic situation, and 'cliched anti-Russian propaganda'