No safe exit for civilians in Qusayr?
Syria’s army has warned Syrian citizens to evacuate the town of Qusayr ahead of an attack.
Reports say the Assad regime has dropped leaflets over Qusayr telling all civilians to evacuate or be treated as combatants.
The leaflets reportedly included a map of a safe route by which to evacuate.
The warning reportedly created a clamor in the Syrian town where approximately 25,000 residents are believed to still be in the city.
Currently, reports say Syrian Troops have advanced throughout the area around Qusayr.
The town fell to the rebels more than a year ago.
Syrian activists say no safe exit for civilians in Qusayr
With reports saying the leaflets contain a map of a safe route to evacuate the place, activists rejected the idea that all are safe in the town.
09 June 2012. UN PHOTO
Reports say what is more worrying is that there is no safe exit for civilians and many believe civilians in the town have been condemned by the regime to a slow death.
Reports emerged that every time civilians try to leave the town, they are shot. Thus, the civilians are trapped together with activists and fighters
US deeply concerned with the report
US Department Spokersperson Jen Psaki has issued a statement that the US government is deeply concerned by reports that the Assad regime has begun dropping leaflets over Qusayr that tell all civilians to evacuate or be treated as combatants.
“We strongly condemn any shelling of innocent civilians or threats to do so.” -Ms. Psaki
She emphasizes that ordering the displacement of the civilian population under these circumstances is the latest demonstration of the regime’s ongoing brutality.
Syrian Regime Continues To Violate International Humanitarian Law
Ms. Psaki indicates that the regime’s continued indiscriminate aerial bombing in civilian areas, including bakeries, breadlines, and hospitals – violates international humanitarian law.
She warns the Syrian regime that as horrifying reports of regime atrocities and massacres continue to emerge, the Assad regime and all its supporters who commit crimes against the Syrian people should know that the world is watching and that they will be identified and held accountable.
As the Syrian people address questions of accountability, Ms. Psaki noted the United States will continue to work with Syrians and the international community to support the documentation of violations.
Scope of human tragedy is staggering
Reports emerged that the scale and scope of the human tragedy in Syria is staggering, and it is inexorably becoming a regional tragedy.
More than 70,000 Syrians have reportedly died.
According to the United Nations, one out of three Syrians will be forced from their homes by the end of 2013.
Jordan is overwhelmed by the burden of 500,000 Syrian refugees which is a number which could reach a million by the end of the year.
Mr. Burns also notes that the crisis in Syria has spilled over to seriously inflame politics in Iraq and Lebanon.
In addition, state structures in Syria are crumbling, extremists are expanding their influence among the opposition, and the dangers of long-term sectarian conflict and fragmentation are growing rapidly.
Apparent use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime is deeply troubling, Mr. Burns said.
The US continues to press for a comprehensive UN investigation to fully establish the facts, as it considers options for responding.
Syrian crisis getting worse every day?
With President Assad’s showing no sign to stepping down and with the incessant conflict continues to destabilize the country, the world now is witnessing a rapid deterioration of an already devastating situation in Syria, where at least 70,000 Syrians have been killed and millions displaced.
The Syrian people continue to face deplorable attacks and massacres by regime forces, including the use of heavy weapons, aircraft, and ballistic missiles.
US considers these actions as proof of the Assad regime’s complete disregard for the lives of Syria’s citizens, including its children.
March was reportedly the deadliest month of the conflict with over 6,000 Syrians killed and with three to 4 million people are now internally displaced.
Refugee crisis worsens
The exponential surge in refugees is among the clearest signs of this dire situation in Syria.
More than 1.2 million people are refugees and is predicted these numbers could double or even triple by the end of this year, nearly one third of Syria’s population.
Today, over 400,000 Syrians have fled in the last seven weeks alone and sought refuge in the neighboring countries.
Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, and UN humanitarian agencies are approaching a saturation point with the surge of refugees.
The US is deeply grateful to the Government of Kuwait for fulfilling its generous contribution of $300 million to UN agencies and other international organizations.
US aid to Syria
In November 2012, the United States of America provided $30 million in additional humanitarian assistance to respond to the needs of Syrian people affected by the turmoil.
In Syria, the additional funding will allow for provision of food aid to families in need.
In neighboring countries, the additional assistance from the United States will provide food supplies, hot meals, and food vouchers for families who have fled the violence in Syria.
In addition, the additional assistance will be provided through the World Food Program (WFP), which is providing food aid to 1.5 million people in Syria and the refugees who have fled to neighboring countries.
The United States is the largest donor of food aid for those affected by the conflict in Syria through WFP.
In August 2012, with the violence engulfing Syria, the United States of America has announced an additional $12 million in humanitarian assistance, bringing the total amount of U.S. emergency aid to more than $76 million.
The U.S. government continues to place on ending the escalating violence which has uprooted hundreds of thousands of Syrians.
The humanitarian needs continue to grow whre the number of Syrians displaced to neighboring countries now exceeds 130,000, with nearly 1.5 million in need inside Syria, including UN-estimated one million internally displaced persons.
The Syrian violence has led a crisis on a humanitarian scale that is of the highest priority within the U.S. government, and for which the US pledges to continue to provide support.
In April 2012, with the deteriorating situation in Syria due to turmoil, the United States of America has bolstered efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to people affected by the conflict in the country.
The UN estimates that there are over 2 million Syrians inside Syria in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Of that number, it’s an estimated 300,000 internally displaced.
United States has dedicated some $33 million to support the important work to assist and protect those in need in Syria and neighboring countries, and much more is on the way.
The violence in Syria, which began in March 2011 as a protest movement similar to those witnessed across the Middle East and North Africa, has claimed over 70, 000 lives, mostly civilians, and displaced tens of thousands.
