Syria death toll ‘more than 191,000’

BBC NEWS

More than 191,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict up to April, the UN human rights chief says.

Navi Pillay said the figure was “probably an underestimate” and criticised what she called “international paralysis” on the issue.

The figure is more than double the UN estimate given a year ago.

Opposition groups in Syria have been fighting President Bashar al-Assad for over three years, but have lost ground in recent months.

The UN report was based on data from four different monitoring groups and the Syrian government which was then cross-checked.

“Tragically it is probably an underestimate of the real total number of people killed during the first three years of this murderous conflict”, Mrs Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said.

“The killers, destroyers and torturers in Syria have been empowered and emboldened by the international paralysis” she added.

The highest number of killings was recorded in Damascus province, with 39,393 deaths, followed by Aleppo, with 31,932.

Both the Syrian government and Syrian rebel groups have been accused of war crimes by the UN.

Responding to the news, ODFS Chairman, Ribal Al-Assad said:

“I am absolutely appalled at the recent reports coming from Syria, the 191,000 death toll in Syria is an outrage which the international community should be ashamed of.

How has this been allowed to happen?

The international community should not have allowed the peaceful uprising in Syria to be hijacked by extremists, and it should not have allowed some Gulf states, as well as Turkey, to train, arm, fund and give safe passage to the Islamist rebels.

This has only allowed the regime to gain more support by telling the world it was fighting extremists and not a peaceful and genuine democratic movement.

Much more needs to be done by the international community to bring an end to this dark chapter; as I have said repeatedly the only solution to the conflict is a diplomatic one with all those who have a genuine belief in freedom and democracy and who are willing to commit to it.

Any other route will only lead to more bloodshed, there certainly can be no place for Islamists at the negotiating table – their only goal is to murder all minorities and those who do not share their perverted belief and install an Islamic Caliphate, they will stop at nothing less.”