Syria Death Toll Likely Approaching 70,000, Says U.N. Rights Chief -- Reuters
(Reuters) - The death toll in Syria is likely approaching 70,000 with civilians paying the price for the U.N. Security Council's lack of action to end the nearly 2-year-old conflict, the U.N. human rights chief said on Tuesday.
Navi Pillay, the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, repeated her call for Syria to be referred by the 15-member council to the International Criminal Court to send a message to both parties in the conflict that there would be consequences for their actions.
Pillay told a council debate on protection of civilians in armed conflict that the death toll in Syria was "probably now approaching 70,000."
On January 2 Pillay said more than 60,000 people had been killed during the revolt against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which began with peaceful protests but turned violent after Assad's forces tried to crush the demonstrations.
Read more ....
My Comment: When I read reports from Doctors Without Borders and from the Red Cross on the plight of these refugees and what theyy must endure in many of the refugee camps that are now set up in Jordan/Turkey/Lebanon .... I cannot help but feel that the death toll is far higher than the 70,000 number that is being reported. Many of these refugees are very sick, and while they may not die from a bullet or shrapnel wound, scores are dying from pneumonia, diseases brought about by weakened immune systems, a lack of necessary medicines, and the absence of medical care. As for the psychological trauma that many of these refugees are experiencing .... and the consequences for the future .... now that's an entirely different chapter.