2012-08-23 13:32:13

UN calls for end of violence in Syria


Syrian forces are reported to have attacked Daraya on Thursday, killing at least 15 people and wounded 150 others. Despite the escalating violence in Syria, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said the international community cannot accept that a peaceful solution to the crisis cannot be found.

"I think for the United Nations to accept that a conflict continues and leads to tremendous suffering and we should wait until that conflict is ended by military means is not dignified,” he said. “ It is not in line with what we should do. So the struggle for peaceful settlements has to continue, and it also has to continue in the case of Syria."

Eliasson also welcomed the recent appointment of Lakhdar Brahimi as the joint UN-Arab League Special Representative for Syria, and said his mandate will focus on development and political issues.

Meanwhile, UN Humanitarian Affairs chief Valerie Amos has recently returned from a trip to Syria, and said government forces and opposition fighters in Syria are failing to comply with international law to protect civilians.

This conflict has taken on a particularly brutal and violent character. We have all seen distressing images on our television screens, and it is ordinary women, men and children who are caught in the midst of it. I repeat my call to all those engaged in the conflict to respect civilians and abide by international humanitarian law," she said.

Amos added health care, shelter, food, water and sanitation are among the most urgent needs in Syria, but the fighting is preventing help from getting to the areas where people are most in need.

Listen: RealAudioMP3








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.