Even the most intractable of wars sometimes throw up moments of hope. But Syrians are being denied even these moments of relief as an agreement reached in Munich on Friday by world powers to cease hostilities in the war-racked country is running into hurdles. Seventeen countries, part of the International Syria Support Group, agreed to implement a nationwide cessation of hostilities which is scheduled to begin in a week’s time. Secondly, they agreed to begin delivery of aid this week to the besieged and hard-to-reach areas. But Russia has thrown cold water on the deal within twenty-four hours by saying that the ceasefire plan was more likely to fail than succeed. This comes as a huge disappointment because after five months of suffering and destruction under relentless attacks by the Russian aircraft, Syrians had hoped that Moscow will cease its attacks temporarily to allow the flow of much needed aid. Hopes have been hit by the fact that Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, took rebel ground near Aleppo and set their sights on the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa province.
The Munich deal was not perfect because it doesn’t bring on board all the parties in the war. The Islamic State group and Al Qaeda’s local branch Al Nusra have been left out and both are capable of scuttling the ceasefire plan. But Russia, which has been the newest entrant in the war, and which has complicated the conflict with its brazen support for President Bashar Al Assad in the name of striking the Islamic State, has the maximum responsibility to make sure that the ceasefire agreement is implemented. Millions of Syrians, starving and on the verge of death, must be given aid. And denying them succour will be a cruelty of unimaginable proportions, especially since no end is in sight to this conflict.
There are signs of escalation in the conflict. The Syrian army looks ready to advance into the Islamic State-held province of Raqqa for the first time since 2014. The Russian intervention has changed the map of the war, and the Gulf region is considering Moscow’s presence an interference in our region. And rightly so. Countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and their allies have a duty to protect Syrians in the face of this foreign interference and are drawing up plans to achieve this objective.
Despite the several hurdles it faces, the Munich agreement must be honoured at any cost. Syrians need help. Images of starving, emaciated children and women may not move the hardened hearts of those killing them, but the world has a duty to make sure that the aggressors see reason.
Even the most intractable of wars sometimes throw up moments of hope. But Syrians are being denied even these moments of relief as an agreement reached in Munich on Friday by world powers to cease hostilities in the war-racked country is running into hurdles. Seventeen countries, part of the International Syria Support Group, agreed to implement a nationwide cessation of hostilities which is scheduled to begin in a week’s time. Secondly, they agreed to begin delivery of aid this week to the besieged and hard-to-reach areas. But Russia has thrown cold water on the deal within twenty-four hours by saying that the ceasefire plan was more likely to fail than succeed. This comes as a huge disappointment because after five months of suffering and destruction under relentless attacks by the Russian aircraft, Syrians had hoped that Moscow will cease its attacks temporarily to allow the flow of much needed aid. Hopes have been hit by the fact that Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air strikes, took rebel ground near Aleppo and set their sights on the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa province.
The Munich deal was not perfect because it doesn’t bring on board all the parties in the war. The Islamic State group and Al Qaeda’s local branch Al Nusra have been left out and both are capable of scuttling the ceasefire plan. But Russia, which has been the newest entrant in the war, and which has complicated the conflict with its brazen support for President Bashar Al Assad in the name of striking the Islamic State, has the maximum responsibility to make sure that the ceasefire agreement is implemented. Millions of Syrians, starving and on the verge of death, must be given aid. And denying them succour will be a cruelty of unimaginable proportions, especially since no end is in sight to this conflict.
There are signs of escalation in the conflict. The Syrian army looks ready to advance into the Islamic State-held province of Raqqa for the first time since 2014. The Russian intervention has changed the map of the war, and the Gulf region is considering Moscow’s presence an interference in our region. And rightly so. Countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia and their allies have a duty to protect Syrians in the face of this foreign interference and are drawing up plans to achieve this objective.
Despite the several hurdles it faces, the Munich agreement must be honoured at any cost. Syrians need help. Images of starving, emaciated children and women may not move the hardened hearts of those killing them, but the world has a duty to make sure that the aggressors see reason.
