In this week’s Perspectives, we follow reports from around Europe on the crisis in Syria and the effects on those who live there. World powers agreed
In this week’s Perspectives, we follow reports from around Europe on the crisis in Syria and the effects on those who live there.
World powers agreed to a cessation of hostilities in Syria set to begin in a week’s time. The announcement came as the Syrian army, backed by Russian airstrikes, was advancing in Aleppo. Tens of thousands of civilians risk being encircled in rebel-held parts of the city as RAI reported on Thursday.
Fearing another humanitarian crisis, the United Nations asked Turkey to open its border with Syria, where tens of thousands of refugees are camped. Turkey has already taken in 2.6 million Syrians. Spanish channel TVE reported from the border on Wednesday.
Nato announced new patrols in the Aegean Sea to help Turkey and Greece crack down on criminal networks smuggling refugees into Europe. Thousands drowned trying to make the journey last year. Among them, many were children, just like Aylan whose tragic death was reported round the world. On Thursday France 3 reported on the court case of the two men accused of his drowning.
Life before the war is merely a memory in Syria. The five-year-old conflict has not only killed generations of Syrians, it has also disrupted all around them. Sometimes pictures can reveal the scale of devastation better than anything else. But a picture is never neutral as RTS reported on Tuesday.