Syria peace talks do little to stem violence, with 1,900 killed as leaders talk

Syrian peace talks have done nothing to stem the violence that’s ravaged the country for nearly three years, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday.

By the group’s calculations, 1,867 people died between the time peace talks began on Jan. 22 and their conclusion on Friday. Included in the estimate are 498 civilians.

The Observatory keeps running totals on its website and Facebook page.

On Friday, for example, there were reports of "seven civilians killed by barrels bombardment this morning near Al-Batoul mosque in Al-Zabdya neighborhood and areas in Al-Sha’ar neighborhood," according to the website.

“Helicopters bombarded areas in Al-Maysar neighborhood led to material damage.”

Both sides of the conflict suffered heavy losses as representatives of the Syrian government and opposition met in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss peace.

According to the Observatory, 646 rebels fighting for the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad were killed, while regime forces lost 515.

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The deaths was not limited to armed conflicts. Syrians died of disease and starvation inside camps or areas hemmed in by fighting. The violence has displaced millions, creating overcrowded refugee camps that lack necessities. 

Reports suggest conditions are so desperate for the 20,000 refugees inside the Yarmuk camp in Damascus that they are eating stray animals.

“One man who killed a dog couldn’t find any meat to eat on its body, because even the dogs are starving,” one man inside the camp told Agence France-Presse via Skype. “What was unimaginable a few months ago is normal now.”

As for the talks themselves, one week of dialogue ended with little progress and the Syrian government suggesting it wouldn’t return for a second round.

Mediator Lakhdar Brahimi, the United Nations and Arab League envoy, had hoped for a Feb. 10 restart, Reuters reported.

“They didn’t tell me that they are thinking of not coming. On the contrary, they said that they would come but they needed to check with their capital,” said Brahimi.

“Progress is very slow indeed, but the sides have engaged in an acceptable manner.”

He said the opposing sides agreed to 10 points, but moved little overall. The opposition wants Assad removed from power, while the regime insists the current civil conflict is the government fighting against terrorists.

Friends of Syria, an alliance of Western and Gulf Arab nations that supports the opposition, placed blame at Assad’s door.

“The regime is responsible for the lack of real progress in the first round of negotiations,” an online statement said. “It must not further obstruct substantial negotiations and it must engage constructively in the second round of negotiations.”

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