UN: Fifth of the World Refugees are Syrians

The U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said that “brutality, violence and callous disregard for human life” have become hallmarks of the conflict that began in March 2011, and the international community “has become numb to its impact.” She cited a doubling of the number of people killed from 100,000 in February to close to 200,000 today and around 1 million injured. Valerie Amos told the Security Council Monday that regime forces continue to use barrel bombs in densely populated areas, and terrorist organizations are using mortars, car bombs and other explosives that kill civilians. Amos said a resolution adopted by the council in February condemned abuses against children, “yet today Syria is one of the most dangerous places on earth to be a child.” Amos cited reports of children being publicly executed, crucified, beheaded and stoned to death, particularly by the terrorist group calling itself the Islamic State which controls a large swath of northern Syria after pummeling government forces there this year. Amos also accused the Assad regime and ISIS of disregarding the council’s demands to end arbitrary detentions, torture and attacks on hospitals and schools, and to lift the siege of towns and cities where no one has been allowed out and no aid has been allowed in for years. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Agencies)