By Samuel Ezerzer
January 17th 2013
There is a "staggering humanitarian crisis" Syria's civil war as hundreds of thousands of refugees flee violence including gang rape, an international aid agency.
Over 600,000 Syrians have fled to other countries especially to neighboring Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan as violence escalates and spreads all over the country as international efforts to find a political solution has stalled.
listen to BBC Commantators on cival war and the The Department of State has amended the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 designations of al-Qa’ida in Iraq (AQI) to include the following new aliases: al-Nusrah Front, Jabhat al-Nusrah, Jabhet al-Nusra, The Victory Front, and Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant.
"Nearly two years into Syria's civil war, the region faces a staggering humanitarian disaster," the IRC report said.
Source Yhoo.com
After many hours of waiting in the pitch black and freezing cold for the bakery to open, the crush of men at the head of the queue started drumming on the doors in frustration.
An activist was explaining to me how the bread shortage in rebel-held parts of Aleppo was another crime to be heaped on the head of Bashar al-Assad.
damaged car and buildings covered with snow are seen at Jouret al Shayah area in Homs January 10, 2013. Picture taken January 10, 2013. click you will see more pictures
He was waved away by a stout matron in a hijab and long black coat.
"Don't blame Bashar. What's happening to us is of our own making," she said as, behind her, Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters struggled to keep order.
It is widely believed in Aleppo that the bread shortage was caused by the FSA stealing flour to sell elsewhere.An FSA officer confirmed as much when I asked him if this had been done by individual fighters or was ordered by commanders to fund their operations.
"Both," he said, "including my own brigade." He added, ruefully: "We are all thieves."
It was a joke, and his men erupted in laughter, but he meant it seriously, too.
'Syrian mujahideen'
source By Paul Wood BBC News, Aleppo
Paul Wood was given the first broadcast interview with a Nusra Front leader
Terrorist Designations of the al-Nusrah
Front as an Alias for al-Qa'ida in Iraq
Press StatementVictoria NulandDepartment Spokesperson, Office of the SpokespersonWashington, DCDecember 11, 2012
The Department of State has amended the Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Executive Order (E.O.) 13224 designations of al-Qa’ida in Iraq (AQI) to include the following new aliases: al-Nusrah Front, Jabhat al-Nusrah, Jabhet al-Nusra, The Victory Front, and Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant. The Department of State previously designated AQI as an FTO under the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under E.O. 13224 on October 15, 2004. The consequences of adding al-Nusrah Front as a new alias for AQI include a prohibition against knowingly providing, or attempting or conspiring to provide, material support or resources to, or engaging in transactions with, al-Nusrah Front, and the freezing of all property and interests in property of the organization that are in the United States, or come within the United States or the control of U.S. persons.
Since November 2011, al-Nusrah Front has claimed nearly 600 attacks – ranging from more than 40 suicide attacks to small arms and improvised explosive device operations – in major city centers including Damascus, Aleppo, Hamah, Dara, Homs, Idlib, and Dayr al-Zawr. During these attacks numerous innocent Syrians have been killed. Through these attacks, al-Nusrah has sought to portray itself as part of the legitimate Syrian opposition while it is, in fact, an attempt by AQI to hijack the struggles of the Syrian people for its own malign purposes. AQI emir Abu Du’a is in control of both AQI and al-Nusrah. Abu Du’a was designated by the State Department under E.O. 13224 on October 3, 2011, and by the United Nations under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 on October 5, 2011. Abu Du’a also issues strategic guidance to al-Nusrah’s emir, Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, and tasked him to begin operations in Syria.
The United States takes this action in the context of our overall support for the Syrian people. We have provided approximately $50 million in non-lethal assistance to the unarmed civilian opposition and nearly $200 million in humanitarian assistance to those affected by the violence in Syria. The violent, sectarian vision of al-Nusrah is at odds with the aspirations of the Syrian people, including the overwhelming majority of the Syrian opposition, who seek a free, democratic, and inclusive Syria and have made clear their desire for a government that respects and advances national unity, dignity, human rights, and equal protection under the law – regardless of faith, ethnicity, or gender. Extremism and terrorist ideology have no place in a post-Asad Syria, and all responsible Syrians should speak out against al-Qa’ida and other extremist elements. By opting for the use of force against its own people, the Asad regime has created the circumstances that attract the violent extremists of al Qa’ida, who seek to exploit civil strife for their own purposes. The sooner the political transition to a post-Asad Syria begins, the better it will be for the Syrian people and the region.
Spread the word on Twitter at #children of syria
Spread the word Syrian families have been forced from their homes by violent conflict, and are struggling to survive in the coldest winter in 10 years.Refugee camps have been blanketed with snow and flooded with rain. Children are extremely vulnerable during harsh weather conditions, and most have no socks or shoes for winter. At least 60,000 people have died since the conflict began two years ago, and cases of flu and pneumonia are increasing. UNICEF is on the ground, working with our partners to supply families with blankets and warm clothes. We're also running child-friendly spaces where children can be safe, vaccinating against life-threatening diseases, providing clean drinking water, and helping children who have suffered psychological trauma.We urgently need more funds to reach up to 2 million children over the coming months with clean water, basic health care and education.Your donation can help us save children's lives.
Spread the word Syrian families have been forced from their homes by violent conflict, and are struggling to survive in the coldest winter in 10 years.Refugee camps have been blanketed with snow and flooded with rain. Children are extremely vulnerable during harsh weather conditions, and most have no socks or shoes for winter. At least 60,000 people have died since the conflict began two years ago, and cases of flu and pneumonia are increasing. UNICEF is on the ground, working with our partners to supply families with blankets and warm clothes. We're also running child-friendly spaces where children can be safe, vaccinating against life-threatening diseases, providing clean drinking water, and helping children who have suffered psychological trauma.We urgently need more funds to reach up to 2 million children over the coming months with clean water, basic health care and education.Your donation can help us save children's lives.
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