The figures are best used for comparison as exact accuracy is difficult. This report takes us up to the end of March, the most recent month for which we have completed analysis of the figures of dead from various sources. Some sources give higher figures than outs but we do not regard them as accurate.
The NCF has been taking figures from six different websites then
compiling them to come up with our own figures taking various factors into
account. Many of these websites issue figures for specific events and at times
are sporadic. Severe restriction on movement and the removal of NGOs and
independent human rights organisations for safety reasons have impacted the
collection and verification of casualty figures.
March was the “bloodiest month” so far this year with more than
6000 deaths. The dramatic increase in casualties was said to be caused by
increased shelling and rebels launching offensives in an effort to capture army
bases together with an influx of foreign provided weapons.
In
March, allegations of the use of chemical weapons surfaced and the Syrian
government and opposition forces shifted blame, each accusing the other side.
Various US and UK intelligence reports have confirmed the use of chemical
agents. For years, the Al Assad government was suspected of accumulating
chemical weapons such as mustard gas and sarin but it was never confirmed. The
Syrian government has never declared or admitted possessing chemical weapons.
Following
these reports, President Obama declared, “For Syria to utilise chemical weapons
on its people crosses a line that will change my calculus and how the United
States approaches these issues.” He also stated that further evidence such as
an UN investigation was needed before the international community took any
action. It is obvious that President Obama is speaking from previous experience
where information about chemical weapons in Iraq was found to be incorrect in
the lead up to the 2003 Iraq war.
A UN
team in Cyprus is waiting deployment to Syria; however, without the consent of
the Syrian government, there is little they can do. Foreign Secretary William
Hague claimed that there is increasing evidence that government forces used
chemical weapons and no proof that rebels have used chemical weapons. Hague
stated, "There is a growing body of limited but persuasive information showing that the regime used - and continues to use - chemical weapons."
Antonio Guterres, the Chief of the UN Refugee
Agency has spoken of the numbers of refugees doubling even tripling by the end
of the year if the Syrian conflict is not resolved. Fighting flared up in Homs
over the weekend, causing more civilians to flee the city into neighbouring
Lebanon. Guterres has urged Turkey,
Lebanon and Jordan to continue supporting and sheltering refugees.
However, refugee agencies are struggling to cope with the worsening humanitarian crisis. In early May, the US sent its first shipment of food and medical supplies to the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Last week, David Cameron announced that the UK will be doubling its non-lethal aid to rebels over the next year. In a statement, he said that the UK will be providing £30 million in new aid for humanitarian relief and an additional £10 million "non-lethal support" to the FSA.
Donor governments are increasingly considering sending lethal aid. US Secretary of State John Kerry has stipulated that President Obama will not be sending American troops to Syria and is still unwilling to send lethal aid although rebels could receive more aid if the Syrian government continues to refuse to cooperate. Kerry stated, "The only alternative to a negotiated settlement is more killing, is more innocent civilian deaths, more chaos, more instability in part of the world that has already suffered too much. That path would lead to a lot more families being torn apart, to a lot more refugees crossing the borders. It is a path that would lead potentially to the splitting of Syria itself."
Experts have said that the Al Assad government is proving more resilient than expected. Many believe that the support of the Iranians, Russians and Hezbollah are the source of the renewed resilience of the Syrian government.
However, refugee agencies are struggling to cope with the worsening humanitarian crisis. In early May, the US sent its first shipment of food and medical supplies to the Free Syrian Army (FSA). Last week, David Cameron announced that the UK will be doubling its non-lethal aid to rebels over the next year. In a statement, he said that the UK will be providing £30 million in new aid for humanitarian relief and an additional £10 million "non-lethal support" to the FSA.
Donor governments are increasingly considering sending lethal aid. US Secretary of State John Kerry has stipulated that President Obama will not be sending American troops to Syria and is still unwilling to send lethal aid although rebels could receive more aid if the Syrian government continues to refuse to cooperate. Kerry stated, "The only alternative to a negotiated settlement is more killing, is more innocent civilian deaths, more chaos, more instability in part of the world that has already suffered too much. That path would lead to a lot more families being torn apart, to a lot more refugees crossing the borders. It is a path that would lead potentially to the splitting of Syria itself."
Experts have said that the Al Assad government is proving more resilient than expected. Many believe that the support of the Iranians, Russians and Hezbollah are the source of the renewed resilience of the Syrian government.
David Cameron and Francois
Hollande have failed to convince the EU to arm the FSA. Both France and Britain
have been anxious to send arms to the FSA but have consistently faced a wall of
resistance by the EU. EU foreign ministers will be discussing the issue on 27th
May since it failed to come up at the EU Summit on 22nd May. Current
weapons embargo and EU sanctions on Syria will expire on 1 June.
The Arab League and Friends of Syria will submit a list of proposals to the UN Security Council today (23rd May) for the June peace conference by calling for a transitional government as a way to end the conflict. The National Council, Syria's main opposition have begun a 3-day meeting in Istanbul today to discuss peace talks with the government.
The Arab League and Friends of Syria will submit a list of proposals to the UN Security Council today (23rd May) for the June peace conference by calling for a transitional government as a way to end the conflict. The National Council, Syria's main opposition have begun a 3-day meeting in Istanbul today to discuss peace talks with the government.
1 comment:
Thanks for keeping us always updated by sharing these reports from time to time.
Post a Comment