world

5th year of war ‘worst yet’ for Syrians, say groups

March 11, 2016

A damaged Syria will see its fifth year of war with groups warning the worst is yet to come for civilians. – Reuters file pic, March 11, 2016. Syria's fifth year of war was the worst yet for civilians increasingly beset by aid blockades and sieges, humanitarian groups said today ahead of the anniversary of the uprising.

"Russia, the United States, France and the United Kingdom must now safeguard the glimmer of hope that the ceasefire has brought to civilians, rather than 'adding fuel to the fire'," the report said, referring to a partial truce that has largely held since February 27.

"The fifth year of the Syria conflict was the worst yet for people as warring parties have continued to wreak havoc, increasingly blocked aid and placed more communities under siege," it added.

Drafted by 30 Syrian and international humanitarian organisations, including Oxfam, CARE and the Syrian American Medical Society, the report criticises UN Security Council members for failing to stop the violence – and even fuelling it.

"UN Security Council resolutions have consistently been flouted by parties to the conflict.

"And their international backers, including permanent members of the (Council), are not only failing to ensure implementation of the resolutions but – through inadequate diplomatic pressure, political and military support to their allies, and direct military action – have actively added fuel to the fire of the Syria conflict," it said.

The NGOs crafted a "report card" to track which aspects of the conflict that began with anti-regime protests on March 15, 2011, had worsened, and which world powers had fuelled the deterioration.

While the UN and aid groups have demanded an end to all attacks against civilians, the report said Russia's air strikes launched in September 2015 "directly hit and damaged civilian infrastructure".

Russia says that its campaign has only struck "terrorists". – AFP, March 11, 2016.