Middle East

UN Head Urges Ceasefire In Syria's Eastern Ghouta Region

A draft cease-fire resolution is being written in the U.N., but there's growing doubt it will get the Security Council's support.

UN Head Urges Ceasefire In Syria's Eastern Ghouta Region
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Article by Jake Jones
SMS
February 21, 2018

The United Nations is once again calling for a ceasefire in Syria after government planes bombed a rebel-held area, destroying some hospitals and medical centers. Hundreds of people died.

The U.N.'s secretary general demanded a break in fighting in Eastern Ghouta to allow humanitarian aid to civilians in the besieged area. It's believed nearly 400,000 people still live there, and it's estimated around half that number are children. 

That region was supposed to be a "de-escalation zone." But President Bashar al-Assad's forces seem to be trying to retake Eastern Ghouta, one of the last parts of the country in control of armed opposition.

A draft resolution is being written in the U.N., but there's growing doubt it will get the Security Council's support.

Russia, a close ally of Syria, has blocked U.N. moves against Assad's regime. Russia's U.N. ambassador called for an open meeting to discuss Syria to be held Thursday.