[JURIST] UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos [official profile] on Friday once again reiterated demands for an end to the Syrian conflict, noting the increasingly grave conditions for civilian populations and lack of access for humanitarian aid. UNICEF estimates that some 400,000 civilians have been displaced [KUNA report] in the district of Al Waer in the Syrian city of Homs, forcing them to live in partially constructed buildings and facilities. In total, more than 100,000 people have been killed [VOA report] since the conflict began over two years ago, and an estimated six million have been forced from their homes.

This past week an independent commission established by the UN to investigate the conflict urged world leaders to bring about peace talks [JURIST report]. The Syrian Civil War [JURIST news archive] has been ongoing since 2011 when opposition groups first began protesting the regime of Bashar Al-Assad [JURIST news archive]. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon [official profile] released a statement in June condemning the most recent violence [JURIST report] in Syria, and expressing concern over how it has been affecting the civilian population.