Syrian death toll more than 191,000 - UN human rights chief Pillay
August 23, 2014 05:54 pm
More than 191,000 people have died in Syria, United Nation human rights chief Navi Pillay has said, lashing out at “international paralysis” on the nearly three-and-a-half year conflict.
The South African, who wraps up a six-year stint as head of the UN human rights commissiom at the end of this month, has criticised world leaders for their lethargy on a wide range of conflicts.
After chiding the UN Security Council on Thursday for what she called a lack of resolve in ending crises, Pillay said in a statement on Friday the dwindling global interest in Syria was “scandalous”.
Pillay gave a toll of 191,369 deaths recorded between March 2011 when the war broke out and April this year, but said it was likely an underestimate. Among the dead were 9,000 children.
The conflict erupted when security forces cracked down on protesters, sparking an uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime that escalated into full blown civil war.
