The United Nations agency that helps refugees has reported that over 200,000 people have now fled the civil war in Syria.
Over 30,000 have fled to Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the last week.
The recent mass exodus is attributed to the increase in government attacks on cities believed to be strongholds of the Free Syrian Army. Activists reported that on Thursday tanks from the government reached the center of Damascus suburb Darayya killing 20 people along the way. Continue reading
United Nations investigators have concluded the massacre of civilians in Houla, Syria was conducted by government troops and militia connected to the Syrian government.
The UN report states that the violations were authorized by the highest levels of the Syrian government.
In the May 2012 massacre, 108 civilians were killed. As the report was released, at least 30 people were killed when Syrian government warplanes attacked the town of Azaz. Continue reading
The United Nations has called on the United States to end production of biofuel ethanol because of the current worldwide food crisis.
Current US law requires that 40% of the nation’s corn must be used to create biofuel. Prices are currently facing significant increases with the USDA estimating the corn yield will be the lowest in 16 years. The shortfall is estimated to cause close to a 40 percent rise in prices per bushel. Continue reading
The UN General Assembly is taking the rare step of condemning the UN Security Council for not taking action in the Syrian civil war. The Assembly is trying to pressure the Security Council to intervene in the war which has left over 20,000 dead.
The action follows yesterday’s resignation of Kofi Annan as special envoy for the UN and the Arab League. Analysts believe the resignation shows that the diplomatic and political process has failed in the nation. Continue reading
Kofi Annan, who has championed peace plans and tried to bring a diplomatic solution to the civil war in Syria, has resigned as the UN and Arab League special envoy to the country.
The news comes as Syrian rebels in Aleppo are hammering a military airfield. The rebels have taken tanks and other heavy machinery from the military after battles and are now putting them toward their offensive. Continue reading
Major General Robert Mood, head of the UN’s Syrian Observer team that left last week, told Reuters that it’s “only a matter of time” until the government of President Bashar al-Assad falls in Syria.
“It is only a matter of time before a regime that is using such heavy military panel and disproportional violence against the civilian population is going to fall,” Mood told Reuters. Continue reading
UN envoy Kofi Annan has developed a new plan for Syria which includes a national unity government aimed at bringing political change to the war-torn nation. Russia, a key opponent to military intervention in the nation’s civil war, is reportedly in favor of Annan’s proposal.
According to western diplomats who have seen the plan, a cabinet will be made of members of the opposition and the current government but no one would who undermine the credibility of the body. Continue reading
After being targeted by gunfire, Maj. Gen. Robert Mood announced his decision to suspend all operations of the UN Observer Team in Syria.
There have been at least ten direct fire incidents on UN personnel and nine UN vehicles were struck in attacks over the last week. Continue reading
The head of the UN Oberservers in Syria is stating that neither side in the country’s civil war is willing to have a peaceful transition and that violence is increasing.
“Violence over the past 10 days has been intensifying,” Major General Robert Mood said at a Friday press conference. “[There is] a push toward advancing military positions.”
General Mood said the UN is focusing on the civilians in the country and trying to make sure their pain and suffering is addressed. Continue reading
The head of UN peacekeeping has declared that Syria is now in a state of civil war.
“Clearly what is happening is that the government of Syria lost some large chunks of territory,” Herve Ladsous told reporters outside the UN in New York. Asked by a reporter if Syria was in a state of civil war, Ladsous said “Yes, I think we can say that.” Continue reading
