UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned Friday that the spiralling conflict in Syria, where some 70,000 people have been killed over the past two years, was breaking the country apart.
"The military solution in Syria is leading to the dissolution of Syria," the UN chief said in Geneva, asking: "What atrocity must occur to finally stir the world to act?"
With the brutal, sectarian-tinged conflict between the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and rebels poised to enter its third year, Ban called for a renewed drive to halt the strife.
Syria has been embroiled in conflict since Assad's regime launched a brutal crackdown on protests that erupted in March 2011.
The United Nations says about 70,000 people have been killed, and with at least 5,000 Syrians a day fleeing this conflict-ravaged homeland, the total number of refugees is expected to top 1.1 million soon.
"For two years now, we have seen suppression of people's aspiration for change, the flight of ever-greater numbers of people from their homes, and the daily escalation of killing, war crimes and crimes against humanity," Ban said.
"The United Nations and our humanitarian partners are doing all we can to provide assistance. But in Syria and anywhere else, we must never use humanitarianism to avoid the tougher choices," he insisted.
Ban said it was down to all sides in Syria to come to the negotiating table, but urged the international community not to lose focus on the conflict there.
"We cannot change the channel and wish it away," he said.
"Those with the political power to change things must answer to every mother and every child in Syria. Inaction in the councils of peace looks like indifference in the cauldron of war," he added.
The UN Security Council's members have been at loggerheads over how to end Syria's civil war, with Assad's longstanding ally Russia, plus China, pitted against the United States, France and Britain, who are seeking a tough stance.
"The Security Council must no longer stand as a silent witness to the slaughter. At long last, it must come together and establish the parameters for the democratic transition that might be the last best hope for Syria," the UN chief said.
UN-mandated human rights investigators have also warned of increased radicalisation and sectarianism -- driven by foreign fighters, honed in conflict zones such as Libya or Afghanistan -- in the bloody civil war in the nation of 21 million.
Ban made his remarks honouring a bishop from South Sudan, who won a UN peace prize in recognition of his efforts to build trust among warring communities in his conflict-torn region.
The Sergio Vieira de Mello Prize is named after the UN's former human rights chief who was killed in a bombing in Iraq in 2003.
At a press conference shortly before the award ceremony, Ban said he was due to meet the international community's mediator for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, during closed-door talks in Switzerland Saturday with 30 UN envoys deployed in the world's crisis zones.
"I'm very concerned about the sectarian violence and spillover effects in neighbouring countries," he told reporters, adding that there was a "very small window of opportunity" for peace.
"That window of opportunity may soon close," he warned.
AFP
Fri Mar 01 2013
AWANI Ringkas: Suspek dipercayai ada masalah mental
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
TPM Fadillah ucap Selamat Hari Bapa
Timbalan Perdana Menteri Fadillah ucap Selamat Hari Bapa yang disambut hari ini kepada semua insan yang bergelar bapa.
Lawatan Perdana Menteri Li Qiang ke Malaysia eratkan lagi hubungan Malaysia-China
Li Qiang, yang memegang jawatan Perdana Menteri China pada Mac tahun lepas, dijadualkan melawat Malaysia dari 18 hingga 20 Jun.
AWANI Pagi: Berita tumpuan & menarik di astroawani.com [16 Jun 2024]
Antara fokus AWANI Pagi bersama Afiezy Azaman & Farhan Hakimi
- PM umum berita gembira mengenai barangan makanan hari ini - Fahmi
- Pengusaha bas sekolah boleh rayu bantuan subsidi diesel
- MCMC mohon TikTok, Telegram turun kandungan didakwa kertas siasatan kes Zayn Rayyan
#AWANInews #AWANIPagi
- PM umum berita gembira mengenai barangan makanan hari ini - Fahmi
- Pengusaha bas sekolah boleh rayu bantuan subsidi diesel
- MCMC mohon TikTok, Telegram turun kandungan didakwa kertas siasatan kes Zayn Rayyan
#AWANInews #AWANIPagi
Inisiatif terjemahan Khutbah Arafah sangat berjaya - Al-Sudais
Terjemahan Khutbah Arafah semalam menyumbang kepada usaha untuk meningkatkan capaiannya ke peringkat global yang lebih luas.
Euro 2024: Itali kena lebih agresif depan gawang - Spalleti
Itali beroleh beberapa peluang untuk menghukum pasukan lawan dan gagal menterjemahkannya.
Peranan AI dalam pengurusan haji diperhebat
Ia adalah sebahagian usaha Pihak Berkuasa Data dan AI Arab Saudi dalam melicinkan perjalanan ibadah haji tahun ini sekali gus memperbaiki pengalaman jemaah.
Jenayah: Dua lelaki didakwa sindiket Trojan Spymax
Dua lelaki rakyat Malaysia yang dilaporkan diektradisi ke Singapura, hari ini disyaki ahli satu sindiket penipuan antarabangsa dikenali sebagai Trojan Spymax.
Ringgit dijangka rendah berbanding dolar AS minggu depan
Ringgit dijangka diniagakan sekitar RM4.70-RM4.71 berbanding Dolar AS minggu depan, susulan tumpuan terhadap keputusan kadar faedah Bank Pusat Australia dan data ekonomi global.
Fasa penstabilan Bursa Malaysia berterusan minggu depan
Bursa Malaysia dijangka terus stabil minggu depan dengan FBM KLCI diniagakan antara 1,600-1,620. Pelabur mungkin mengurangkan dagangan sempena cuti Hari Raya Aidiladha.
Tentera Myanmar mesti mulakan langkah pertama untuk tamatkan keganasan - Ban Ki-Moon
Pihak tentera sendiri mesti memulakan langkah pertama untuk menamatkan krisis di Myanmar, kata bekas Ketua Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu, Ban Ki-Moon.
Amanat pembangunan mapan Ban Ki-Moon kepada Malaysia
Ban Ki-Moon seru semua pihak di negara ini terus mendokong Matlamat Pembangunan Mapan (SDG) PBB 2030.
Anak saudara Ban Ki-moon dipenjara
Anak saudara Ban Ki-moon dihukum penjara enam bulan kerana didapati bersalah cuba memberi rasuah.
Antonio Guterres dilantik Setiausaha Agung baharu PBB
Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) secara rasmi melantik Antonio Guterres sebagai Setiausaha Agung yang baharu, menggantikan Ban Ki-Moon.
Setiausaha Agung PBB kutuk serangan pengganas di Dhaka
Ban Ki-Moon beri jaminan kepada kerajaan Bangladesh bahawa PBB sedia membantu dalam usaha mencegah semua bentuk ekstremisme ganas.
Ban Ki-Moon puji inisiatif M'sia kecam penganiayaan kanak-kanak di zon perang
Setiausaha PBB itu mengingatkan masyarakat antarabangsa bahawa melindungi kanak-kanak adalah 'moral amat penting dan tanggungjawab undang-undang'.
QZ8501: Setiausaha Agung PBB ucap takziah
Setiausaha Agung Pertubuhan Bangsa Bersatu Ban Ki-moon mengutuskan "ucapan takziah dengan sepenuh ikhlas" beliau kepada keluarga penumpang dan anak kapal pesawat AirAsia Indonesia yang terhempas.
AS$300 juta diperlukan dalam usaha membantu mangsa taufan Haiyan
Pasca taufan Haiyan di Filipina Pertubuhan Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) melancarkan kempen rayuan untuk membantu mangsa taufan Haiyan.
Pendekatan politik penting untuk menangani krisis Syria - PBB
Ban Ki-Moon berkata pendekatan ketenteraan hanyalah boleh diguna pakai untuk tujuan pertahanan atau diluluskan oleh majlis keselamatan.
Tentera menghala ke utara Mali
Tentera kerajaan yang dibantu askar Perancis dilapor menghala ke arah utara Mali dalam usaha menghapuskan kumpulan penentang kerajaan.