AS LAKHDAR BRAHIMI prepares to start his role as the latest UN special envoy to Syria, the humanitarian situation has worsened in the country’s second city Aleppo.
Reuters reports that the destruction of a main water pipeline on Saturday has caused a serious water shortage in the city.
More attacks were seen yesterday with State-media outlet SANA reporting that terrorist bombs have killed 27 people and injured 64 more. The Governor of Aleppo said a car bomb exploded near a school and hospital. He said all the casualties were civilians. However, activists and residents said among those killed were forces loyal to President Bashar Assad.
Brahimi begins his mission by meeting Arab League officials and senior Egyptian leaders today before taking his first official trip to Damascus.
The Algerian UN heavyweight is not setting expectations too high and has previously described his job as “nearly impossible”. He takes over from Kofi Annan whose peace plan failed to bring about any respite from the violence which has plagued the Middle East country since March 2011.
More than 27,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict erupted, according to activist group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
The civil war in Syria will be the central focus at today’s 21st session of the UN Human Rights Council.
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