On ‘Syria’s abyss,’ UN commission warns of escalating violence, humanitarian disaster

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) - Escalating violence, a plunging economy, and a devastating humanitarian crisis are inflicting new hardship and suffering on Syria’s people, after 10 years of conflict, according to a new report by the UN Syria Commission of Inquiry on Wednesday.

With more than half the pre-war population displaced and over 90% living in poverty, Syrians are staring into “a new abyss,” with 12 million people facing food insecurity and 14.6 million need humanitarian aid, said the report.

Military skirmishes, bombardments, abductions, and killings away from the conflict zones are increasing, it added.

“While parts of Syria are no longer subject to active fighting, make no mistake that violence against civilians continues across the country,” commission chair Paulo Pinheiro said.

He said these range from bombardment in the northwest, north, and northeast, to targeted killings, unlawful detention, and torture.

“Some of you may be asking what lessons can be learned from the Syria crisis – in particular the role of Russia – when we look at what is happening in Ukraine today,” said Pinheiro at a UN news conference.

“Warring parties’ attempts to resolve the Syrian conflict militarily over the past decade have enabled the violation of nearly every core human right, the commission of almost every crime against humanity listed in the Rome statute, and nearly every war crime,” he said.

“We can only hope that world leaders are doing everything they can to avoid a similar fate for Ukraine.”

- Parallels with Ukraine?

The three commissioners were asked if they saw any parallels between the 10-year-old Syrian conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war.

“The conflict may be different in that, the Russian Federation is in Syria, to assist the government. Whereas in Ukraine, they're there to remove it,” said Hanny Megally, one of the commissioners.

“They're using more airpower in Syria, less people on the ground.”

At least 474 civilians have been killed and 864 others injured in Ukraine since Russia launched a war against its neighbor, according to UN figures, with the real toll feared to be higher.

More than 2.1 million people have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, according to the UN refugee agency.

The Syria report also said the failure to respect human rights and international humanitarian law in Syria has eroded the respect for fundamental norms.

It has “exposed a deadly cynicism by armed actors, where might makes right and denial and obfuscation are employed to deflect blame or criticism and undermine accountability.”

Pinheiro said the Syrian population everywhere is enduring crushing poverty which is hitting particularly the internally displaced.

“These are the abysses faced by the Syrian people, caught between warring parties and everywhere being repressed and exploited by armed actors,” he said.

Beyond the active frontlines, daily life for Syrian women, men, and children gets more difficult and dangerous, noted the report.

Some 12 million people are food insecure, and an unprecedented 14.6 million in need of humanitarian assistance.

Violations for monetary gain exacerbate the increasingly desperate economic situation, the report also noted.

- Hostage-taking

Violations also included hostage-taking for ransom, extortion, and property seizures for confiscation or harvesting and selling crops.

“These violations are committed across the country by government forces and other armed actors controlling territory, often targeting minorities,” the report stressed.

Syria today has been facing the worst drought it has seen in decades.

Inflation, already close to 140% at the start of the year, has continued to spiral out of control when the price of basic commodities was already skyrocketing in the country.

“At the same time, the outbreak of conflict between Russia and Ukraine will only contribute to greater price pressure, likely pushing ever more Syrians into poverty,” the report added.