Humanitarian crisis in Syria 'much greater than previously reported'

[webfact]

Humanitarian crisis in Syria 'much greater than previously reported'



NEW YORK: -- Fresh figures have been released suggesting the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Syria is much greater than previously reported.

11.5 percent of population killed or injured since 2011

The United Nations stopped collecting statistics on the number of deaths and displaced 18 months ago. Then, they put the figure of fatalities directly or indirectly caused by war at 250,000.

However, new numbers released by the Syrian Centre for Policy Research suggest that figure could actually be as high as 470,000.

It says 45 percent of the population is displaced, “ruining” human development.

The SCPR says, in total, 11.5 percent of the population has been killed or injured in the almost five-year civil war in Syria, which erupted in March 2011.

As a result, life expectancy has dropped by 14 years and six months; from 70 in 2010, to 55.4 in 2015.

Fighting in Aleppo displaces 50,000

The International Committee of the Red Cross has warned intensified fighting in Syria’s Aleppo Province has displaced some 50,000 people.

More than 30,000 have fled north to the Turkish border. However, the frontier remains largely closed, forcing aid groups to set up makeshift camps on the Syrian side.

Food and supplies are being driven across to the border to the temporary settlements in Oncupinar. For the moment, local authorities insist there is no need to open the frontier.

Strikes on Aleppo Province

Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air strikes and Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah fighters, have been gaining on Aleppo, which has been rebel-held since 2012.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the assault will force tens of thousands more refugees to flee Syria.

Turkey is home to the world’s biggest refugee population, with 2.5 million Syrians already sheltering there.

Erdogan advocates creating a ‘safe zone’ within Syria. Speaking on Thursday (February 11) he said “new ways of keeping Syrians in their country need to be sought.”

He added that the crisis can not be solved without a no-fly zone and other safe areas within Syria.

Ceasefire?

US Secretary of State, John Kerry, has called on Moscow to participate in efforts to facilitate a ceasefire. Russian news agencies report Moscow is ready to discuss a possible pause in fighting.

The two nations are joining other world powers in Munich to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Syria.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-02-12

[Scott]

I fear that many of these people will not live to see their country restored, even if they live a long and full life.

I was based for a time in Syria. It was a lovely country and pleasant people.

It's very sad.

[jaidam]

Playing with fire and getting burnt, groundbreaking stuff. Their wishing the overthrow of the largely benevolent Assad, primarily because he was not religious enough (shades of '80s U2) has left them in a right old pickle. Lets get rid of old Bashar and we can have a wonderful caliphate, praising allah until we are all in raptures, rich beyond belief and sexually sated. Didn't work out all that well did it? I wonder if the problem is the climate in Syria? Could it be the terrain causing all these problems? Altitude? Or could islam again be proven to be an utter tool of destruction? The modern day poisoned chalice.

BTW them fleeing to Europe to set up their poxy caliphate will also end in tears for the above reason.

[simple1]

Playing with fire and getting burnt, groundbreaking stuff. Their wishing the overthrow of the largely benevolent Assad, primarily because he was not religious enough (shades of '80s U2) has left them in a right old pickle. Lets get rid of old Bashar and we can have a wonderful caliphate, praising allah until we are all in raptures, rich beyond belief and sexually sated. Didn't work out all that well did it? I wonder if the problem is the climate in Syria? Could it be the terrain causing all these problems? Altitude? Or could islam again be proven to be an utter tool of destruction? The modern day poisoned chalice.

BTW them fleeing to Europe to set up their poxy caliphate will also end in tears for the above reason.

You have totally overlooked the severe oppression prior to the Syrian Arab Spring demonstrations by the Assad regime with torturing and killing thousands, including children, massive corruption in favour of Assad's minions and so on. The Assad regime commenced killing and arrests of demonstrators that triggered the civil war, along with Assad's release from prison Islamists to enter the war against him to try & gain sympathy from the international community. In addition Assad also enabled Islamists to enter Iraq via Syria during the US occupation and a state sponsor of terrorism.

The Assad regime, now also alleged the Russians (refer URL below) are doing 'business deals' with Daesh.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/02/09/why-are-russian-engineers-working-at-an-islamic-state-controlled-gas-plant-in-syria/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Campaign&utm_term=Flashpoints

To claim the Assad regime was 'largely benevolent' is nonsense.

[dexterm]

Playing with fire and getting burnt, groundbreaking stuff. Their wishing the overthrow of the largely benevolent Assad, primarily because he was not religious enough (shades of '80s U2) has left them in a right old pickle. Lets get rid of old Bashar and we can have a wonderful caliphate, praising allah until we are all in raptures, rich beyond belief and sexually sated. Didn't work out all that well did it? I wonder if the problem is the climate in Syria? Could it be the terrain causing all these problems? Altitude? Or could islam again be proven to be an utter tool of destruction? The modern day poisoned chalice.

BTW them fleeing to Europe to set up their poxy caliphate will also end in tears for the above reason.

Assad was a brutal dictator.

"Human Rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have detailed how the Assads regime's secret police routinely tortured, imprisoned, and killed political opponents, and those who speak out against the regime."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashar_al-Assad#Human_rights

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashar_al-Assad#War_crimes_and_crimes_against_humanity

The war started with justifiable protests against his corrupt dictatorship. Since then several factions and countries have jumped on the band wagon to fight a proxy war, in which millions of innocents have been caught up.

If you want to attempt to understand what has happened read this excellent analogy to a bar brawl.

http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/think-syrian-refugees-should-take-up-arms-and-sort-out-their-own-country-you-need-this-pub-brawl-a6862526.html

Edited February 12, 2016 by dexterm

[MaeJoMTB]

"Human Rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have detailed how the Assads regime's secret police routinely tortured, imprisoned, and killed political opponents, and those who speak out against the regime."

Yeah, but when he was in charge, he didn't kill 25% of the population, and drive the survivors into Turkey and Europe.

[craigt3365]

The world stood by while all this happened. And allowed foreign powers to go in and create this mess. I feel sad for the average person who just wants to raise his family and get on with life.

[simple1]

"Human Rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have detailed how the Assads regime's secret police routinely tortured, imprisoned, and killed political opponents, and those who speak out against the regime."

Yeah, but when he was in charge, he didn't kill 25% of the population, and drive the survivors into Turkey and Europe.

True, but now a very different scenario with the Assad regime's military who are indiscriminately killing the majority of civilians - approx 70%. Also take a look at the war crimes being committed by the militias (Shabiha) who are sponsored by Assad.

[dexterm]

"Human Rights groups, such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have detailed how the Assads regime's secret police routinely tortured, imprisoned, and killed political opponents, and those who speak out against the regime."

Yeah, but when he was in charge, he didn't kill 25% of the population, and drive the survivors into Turkey and Europe.

He's stiil in charge [of one of the factions] and his barbarity killing 5,000 protestors in the first months of the Arab Spring escalated the situation and was the catalyst for all the mayhem and refugees that has followed.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/syria-crackdown-has-killed-5000-people-un-says/

Of course, all of the factions [and some countries] are guilty of war crimes too. But Assad is far from the saint you attempt to portray him.

[Scott]

An off-topic post has been removed.

Please stay on topic.

[retarius]

Well at a minimum the humanitarian crisis is twice as big as the western media made it out to be. When Aleppo was captured by ISIS and then by FSA large numbers of SAA and citizens who supported Assad….their suffering was naturally ignored by the Western media, but now the shoe is on the other foot, we are all humanitarians….a sickening indictment of modern reporting.

[Galactus]

Well at a minimum the humanitarian crisis is twice as big as the western media made it out to be. When Aleppo was captured by ISIS and then by FSA large numbers of SAA and citizens who supported Assad….their suffering was naturally ignored by the Western media, but now the shoe is on the other foot, we are all humanitarians….a sickening indictment of modern reporting.

double standards and half assed behavior of west or its media is famous!

remember the world up roar when only 100 something people killed in Paris.

And thousands of kids and adults die from hunger in Syria and no one cares or does something.

[Morch]

Well at a minimum the humanitarian crisis is twice as big as the western media made it out to be. When Aleppo was captured by ISIS and then by FSA large numbers of SAA and citizens who supported Assad….their suffering was naturally ignored by the Western media, but now the shoe is on the other foot, we are all humanitarians….a sickening indictment of modern reporting.

Western media did not ignore the suffering and horrors visited on the people of Aleppo. There were reports, condemnations and coverage at various stages of the fighting - pretty much regardless of who was carrying out the atrocities. True enough that there were spins, faulty reports and outright propaganda, but these are present in almost every media coverage of a war zone.

[JHolmesJr]

It seems arabs do better in summer….than spring.

[GeorgesAbitbol]

It was maybe not the best but during Assad the Christian community was rising, and there was even a Jewish community.

I am curious to see what would happen to them if the "good ones" win...

[i claudius]

Playing with fire and getting burnt, groundbreaking stuff. Their wishing the overthrow of the largely benevolent Assad, primarily because he was not religious enough (shades of '80s U2) has left them in a right old pickle. Lets get rid of old Bashar and we can have a wonderful caliphate, praising allah until we are all in raptures, rich beyond belief and sexually sated. Didn't work out all that well did it? I wonder if the problem is the climate in Syria? Could it be the terrain causing all these problems? Altitude? Or could islam again be proven to be an utter tool of destruction? The modern day poisoned chalice.

BTW them fleeing to Europe to set up their poxy caliphate will also end in tears for the above reason.

You have totally overlooked the severe oppression prior to the Syrian Arab Spring demonstrations by the Assad regime with torturing and killing thousands, including children, massive corruption in favour of Assad's minions and so on. The Assad regime commenced killing and arrests of demonstrators that triggered the civil war, along with Assad's release from prison Islamists to enter the war against him to try & gain sympathy from the international community. In addition Assad also enabled Islamists to enter Iraq via Syria during the US occupation and a state sponsor of terrorism.

The Assad regime, now also alleged the Russians (refer URL below) are doing 'business deals' with Daesh.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/02/09/why-are-russian-engineers-working-at-an-islamic-state-controlled-gas-plant-in-syria/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=New%20Campaign&utm_term=Flashpoints

To claim the Assad regime was 'largely benevolent' is nonsense.

So get rid of that nasty Assad and get those nice ISIS boys in , that sounds good

[craigt3365]

Well at a minimum the humanitarian crisis is twice as big as the western media made it out to be. When Aleppo was captured by ISIS and then by FSA large numbers of SAA and citizens who supported Assad….their suffering was naturally ignored by the Western media, but now the shoe is on the other foot, we are all humanitarians….a sickening indictment of modern reporting.

Western media did not ignore the suffering and horrors visited on the people of Aleppo. There were reports, condemnations and coverage at various stages of the fighting - pretty much regardless of who was carrying out the atrocities. True enough that there were spins, faulty reports and outright propaganda, but these are present in almost every media coverage of a war zone.

Agreed. The western media has been reporting fairly well with regards to Syria. Never ignored. The "Red Line" comes to mind. But perhaps Syria has just never been fully engaged by western nations? If the US went in full force, there'd be a huge outcry. Now that they didn't, there's also a huge outcry! As they say, you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.

Sadly, right now, the humanitarian disaster is much worse. As told by the refugees in other countries.