What have / haven't the UN done?
The Syrian civil war began in March 2011 between the President Bashar al-Assad’s government and rebel forces. Since then the death toll is at 140,041 among them 7,626 children and 5,064 women, (haaretz.com, 2014). In July 2012 the international Red Cross said, “Violence in Syria has become so widespread that it is in a state of a civil war,” yet the UN still has not responded to this crisis, (cbbc, 2013).
The reason for this lack of intervention is due to the Security Council. The United Nations have voted on sanctions to Syria however VETO has been used by Russia and China, who do not want to get involved, (Weaver, 2014). The 3 year civil war has caused destruction and mass civilian deaths, and the UN cannot apply its principles due to the VETO being used as only 2 permanent members do not want to get involved.
The reason for this lack of intervention is due to the Security Council. The United Nations have voted on sanctions to Syria however VETO has been used by Russia and China, who do not want to get involved, (Weaver, 2014). The 3 year civil war has caused destruction and mass civilian deaths, and the UN cannot apply its principles due to the VETO being used as only 2 permanent members do not want to get involved.
“It is shameful that the international community has done nothing to show it will defend human rights…They are just looking on at the tragedy. The Syrian people dying are just statistics to them.”
(haaretz.com, 2014)
The UN has allowed this civil war to develop as they have not sent help to the civilians who are suffering. The failure of this mission lies in the structure and rules of the Security Council. If they operated fairly and in consideration of the suffering people many casualties would have been prevented.