Perpetual war

“Hell on earth” – this is how UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has referred to the rebel-held suburb of Eastern Ghouta while calling for a ceasefire. Red Cross and the World Food Programme have repeated the calls as pro-regime forces continued to drop barrel bombs and rockets on the area. The Syria civil war continues to remain in international spotlight without any hope of peace. If anything, the situation has only gotten worse in recent weeks. Around 400,000 people are trapped in Eastern Damascus with no respite from the constant fighting. The UN Security Council was set meet to discuss the violence in Eastern Ghouta but the meeting was delayed once again. Each of the major powers has continued to display the same power plays that have brought Syria to this place. This is as the death toll climbed up to 470 in Eastern Ghouta, with another 1,200 or more injured. Only one small convoy of aid has been able to reach the area – which is on the brink of a humanitarian disaster – since November. People are unable to leave shelters due to the constant aerial bombing. Malnutrition has spiralled in just one year. Hope is in dim supply.

The US is calling for direct action while Russia seems to be opposed to that – but much of this is posturing. Moreover, there are concerns over Russia’s admission that dozens of its citizens were killed in Syria in a US airstrike this week. This followed earlier reports that at least 300 men working for a Russian private military contractor had been in Syria. This has led to (premature) speculation that Syria could become a global battlefield. The trouble is that all of this does not matter for the people of Syria, who have suffered seven years of war. The war-torn country has continued to be used as a proxy battlefield for the US, UK, Russia, Israel, Iran and Saudi Arabia. None of them are willing to admit their role and step back. It is as if the perpetual war benefits everyone involved. New peace talks held this week expectedly failed; it is rather clear that no one is really trying. Each country is pushing their allies in the Syrian battlefield to continue to battle. With aid agencies unable to access the most vulnerable parts, even papering over the humanitarian crisis is becoming impossible. One can call the world to action but this is futile in the current circumstances. Syria continues to burn.