أرشيف الوسم : people

On Tuesday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency described the damage caused by the Israeli air campaign on Gaza as “immense” and said that over 500 homes were razed in the past week. “The level of human losses and destruction in Gaza is really immense. According to our latest figure, we are talking about 174 killed and well over …

The UN’s refugee agency on Friday said that Europe has hosted only a “miniscule” number of Syrian refugees, and needs to do more the help Syria’s neighbors shoulder the refugee burden. “We’re calling on European countries to strengthen their response to the Syrian crisis.We’re urging states to ensure access to their territory, we’re urging states to ensure fair and efficient …

Research group Orb International’s new survey suggests that 60% of the Syrian population would support “international military involvement in Syria”. However, the percentage drops significantly in regime-held areas – 11% in Tartus, 36% in Damascus – and rises sharply in rebel-controlled areas – 82% in Al Raqqah, 61% in Aleppo and 88% in Idlib. It also found out that only …

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday appealed for a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, and called on the global leaders to do everything they can to stop the escalating violence in Gaza. “It is now more urgent than ever to try to find common ground for a return to calm and a ceasefire understanding”, he said at an emergency …

Syrian President Bashar Assad’s decreed amnesty last month seems nothing more than a false promise of freedom, analysts say. On June 9th, after winning a controversial Presidential election held in only regime-controlled areas, Assad issued the amnesty which should have freed the near 100,000 prisoners human rights groups say have been detained since the rebellion against the Assad regime began …

Non-Muslims often ask me, “How can you not eat from dawn till sunset? Isn’t it too hard? Not even water?!” I tell them, “It is all in the mind. Almost anybody can do it”.  No, it’s not that I don’t feel hungry (believe me I do, especially during those very long days here in Canada).  When I fast, I am …

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Wednesday offered general amnesty in a rare conciliatory move to undermine support for militants; large swathes of Iraqi territory has been overrun by a militant offensive which threatens to tear the country apart. Maliki’s offer comes after a ridiculous opening to the parliament, despite leaders all over the world urging fractious politicians in Iraq …

On Wednesday, A Palestinian teenager was abducted and killed in a possible act of revenge for the murder of three Israeli youths by militants, triggering clashes in east Jerusalem. Palestinian leaders condemned the killing, and held Israel responsible for it, demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government act to prevent any revenge attacks. “I demand the Israeli government punish the killers …

In the wake of the reelection, so farcical it drove every self-respecting, democratic man to absolute disgust, what could the dictator’s next steps possibly be? The Assad regime and its officials, namely Bouthayna Chaaban and Faysal el Mokdad, among others, have insisted on insulting the intelligence of the people by claiming that France, as well as the entire democratic world, …

On Thursday, UN Under-secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos accused Syria of putting more effort into obstructing the UN than providing aid to millions of needy people. Amos, presenting the fourth UN report on humanitarian access in Syria, stressed that around 10.8 million are in critical need of humanitarian aid, and that workers could not reach …