The UN's special envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura said on Thursday that despite continued clashes in parts of the country the Syrian ceasefire brokered by the United States and Russia is still, for the most part, holding.
"In general the cessation of hostilities has been holding," he said while convening the International Syria Support Group which is monitoring the truce. "Unfortunately, we have to admit ... there are still a number of places where fighting has continued," he added.
Despite the situation being "fragile" Mistura said "progress has been visible."
One area in which it has been visible is the decline of Syrian civilian deaths over the course of the last six years. Twenty-four civilians were reportedly killed in Syria in the first five days of the truce in areas where it has been put into effect. A very small number compared to the last six years of constant war.
"Compare that number to Friday, the day before the truce came into effect: 63 civilians, including 11 children, died that day alone," said the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, Rami Abdel Rahman, according to AFP.
The US and Russia both monitor the truce and do their utmost to deescalate any clashes to stop them from spreading and potentially jeopardizing the entire effort. Russia has a coordination center in its main operational hub in Syria, its airbase in Latakia, where it has arranged truces with several different opposition groups and is reaching out to more everyday.
The US also provided that center with a list of 69 opposition groups which have recognized and pledged to adhere to the truce on Sunday according to the Interfax news agency.
If this temporary truce remains in place that could in turn pave the way for more comprehensive talks aimed at bringing the six-year-old Syrian conflict to an end through a transition process.
"In general the cessation of hostilities has been holding," he said while convening the International Syria Support Group which is monitoring the truce. "Unfortunately, we have to admit ... there are still a number of places where fighting has continued," he added.
Despite the situation being "fragile" Mistura said "progress has been visible."
One area in which it has been visible is the decline of Syrian civilian deaths over the course of the last six years. Twenty-four civilians were reportedly killed in Syria in the first five days of the truce in areas where it has been put into effect. A very small number compared to the last six years of constant war.
"Compare that number to Friday, the day before the truce came into effect: 63 civilians, including 11 children, died that day alone," said the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, Rami Abdel Rahman, according to AFP.
The US and Russia both monitor the truce and do their utmost to deescalate any clashes to stop them from spreading and potentially jeopardizing the entire effort. Russia has a coordination center in its main operational hub in Syria, its airbase in Latakia, where it has arranged truces with several different opposition groups and is reaching out to more everyday.
The US also provided that center with a list of 69 opposition groups which have recognized and pledged to adhere to the truce on Sunday according to the Interfax news agency.
If this temporary truce remains in place that could in turn pave the way for more comprehensive talks aimed at bringing the six-year-old Syrian conflict to an end through a transition process.
Comments
Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.
To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.
We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.
Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.
Post a comment