Civilians in Syria have been 'deliberately targeted' during the ground and air assaults targeting residential areas and medical centers by the forces of the Russian-backed Assad regime, a recent United Nations (UN) report states.
In its latest report, the Commission of Inquiry on Syria detailed the destruction of civilian infrastructure caused by five years of war, including medical care and educational facilities, public spaces, electricity and water installations
"Flagrant violations of human rights and international humanitarian law continue unabated, aggravated by blatant impunity," the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry said in its latest report.
“We are seeing an overwhelming yet consistent intensification of external military involvement in Syria by all parties, with devastating consequences for civilians and various communities. With the intensification of airstrikes, there are few safe places for civilians. They are exposed more than ever to violence,” said Commission Chair Paulo Sérgio Pinheiro.
The UN officials who called for the indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on the civilian population to be stopped, said that war crimes in Syria's five-year-old conflict are widespread and Syrian regime forces and Daesh terrorists continue to commit crimes against humanity in the face of inaction by the international community.
"Government forces, anti-government armed groups and terrorist organizations employ sieges and consequent starvation, denial of humanitarian access and other forms of deprivation as instruments of war to force surrender or to extract political concessions," it said.
"Civilians, who bear the brunt, serve as little more than pawns. Their suffering has been compounded by an absence of civilian protection," it added.
Justice halted by Russia, China
The UN commission previously urged the 15-nation Security Council to refer the conflict in Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague or an ad hoc war crimes tribunal to ensure justice. Russia and China previously blocked a Western attempt to refer the conflict to the ICC.
Syria is not an ICC member, so the only way the court could take it up is with a Security Council referral.
It said that all parties should distinguish between military and civilian targets, halt indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, end sieges and guarantee unhindered access to humanitarian aid.
A draft US-Russian plan calls for a cessation of hostilities in Syria to begin on February 27 but to exclude Daesh and al-Qaeda linked Nusra Front terrorists.
