You cannot let more people die on your watch in Syria: Deputy UN relief chief
New York, Jan 16 (Just Earth News/IBNS): With hundreds of thousands of Syrians living in a "nightmarish reality dictated by a conflict that respects few rules and obeys no laws," the United Nations deputy humanitarian chief told the members of the UN Security Council on Friday that they cannot let more people "die on their watch."
Syria: UN officials give first-hand accounts of horrible desperation in besieged towns
New York, Jan 13 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As United Nations officials gave on-site accounts of the "horrible and terrible" situation in the besieged Syrian town of Madaya, from 400 critically ill people facing death without immediate medical care to a kilo of rice costing $300, the first emergency evacuation took place today – a five-year-old girl rushed through pro-Government roadblocks for urgent surgery in Damascus.
Russia raids on Syria kills 57
Beirut, Jan 10 (IBNS) At least 57 people were killed as Russian warplanes targeted with missiles the Administrative Court of Jabhat Al-Nusra in Syrian city Maarrat al-Nu’man, a monitor said on Sunday.
Calling state of besieged Syrian town 'horrendous,' UN seeks humanitarian access
New York, Jan 9 (Just Earth News/IBNS): As the United Nations and its partners struggled on Friday to gain humanitarian access to the Government-beseiged Syrian city of Madaya, amid reports of people starving to death or being killed while trying to leave, UN officials called the situation "horrendous…ghastly," and a potential war crime.
Syria: UN condemns archaeological destruction at Bosra
New York, Dec 26 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Friday condemned the destruction of parts of the ancient Syrian city of Bosra in fighting two days ago, alerting the world art market to potential trafficking in artefacts from the World Heritage site.
Syria: UN condemns archaeological destruction at major World Heritage site of Bosra
New York, Dec 25 (Just Earth News/IBNS) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on Thursday condemned the destruction of parts of the ancient Syrian city of Bosra in fighting two days ago, alerting the world art market to potential trafficking in artefacts from the World Heritage site.
Syria: Senior UN officials paint grim picture as Government, allies reportedly attack hospitals
New York, Dec 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS)Hospitals, markets and bakeries have been hit, scores of civilians are killed and injured almost daily, and doctors themselves have become targets in escalating fighting and airstrikes in Syria, reportedly by the Government and its allies, a senior United Nations relief official reported on Monday, voicing outrage.
New York, Dec 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS) In its first resolution to focus on the politics of ending Syria’s five-year-long war, the Security Council on Friday gave the United Nations an enhanced role in shepherding the opposing sides to talks for a political transition, with a timetable for a ceasefire, a new constitution and elections, all under UN auspices.
Syria: UN chief meets with international partners on resolving crisis
New York, Dec 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS) United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday joined diplomats from the International Syria Support Group meeting in New York to discuss a solution to the country’s five-year war, and he is expected to brief the Security Council later on Friday on the latest developments.
Syria: UN envoy cites possibility of ceasefire, future political framework to end conflict
New York, Nov 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS): After briefing an informal session of the United Nations General Assembly about the "deliverables" that had come out of the recent international talks in Vienna on the Syria crisis, UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura on Thursday indicated the possibility of a ceasefire in the war-torn country, through continued discussions and with active inclusion of all parties involved in the conflict.
Status quo simply cannot continue in Syria: UN humanitarian chief
New York, Nov 17 (Just Earth News/IBNS): More than five years since the unrest in Syria began, senior United Nations officials on Monday stressed to the Security Council that the status quo in the war-torn country cannot continue, highlighting the effects of the conflict on civilians, especially women and children.
Joint UN body to probe chemical weapons in Syria is now ‘fully operational’
New York, Nov 14 (Just Earth News/IBNS) : A joint body between the United Nations and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to investigate the use of chemical weapons in Syria is fully operational from Friday, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has informed the Security Council.
Syria: Envoy says UN ready to support Vienna talks for political solution to conflict
New York, Nov 11 (Just Earth News/IBNS): Seeking to maintain momentum for renewed diplomacy towards a political settlement of the conflict in Syria, the United Nations Special Envoy on the crisis said on Tuesday that the UN is ready to support any decision taken at the next round of international talks in Vienna this weekend and that he hopes the discussions yield some deliverables for the long-suffering Syrian people – namely, a lessoning of the violence.
Syrians living tragedy and despair barely imaginable five years ago: UN relief official
New York, Oct 28 (IBNS): The most senior United Nations humanitarian official on Tuesday stressed that the failure of parties to the conflict in Syria to uphold the basic tenets of international law has propelled the Syrian people to levels of tragedy and despair which could barely have been imagined five years ago.
Syria: UN human rights advisers alarmed at rise of incitement to religious violence
New York, Oct 14 (IBNS): Senior United Nations human rights officials on Tuesday expressed their alarm at the rise in violent rhetoric by influential religious leaders – including calls for "holy war" against certain faiths – in relation to the situation in Syria.