Cease-Fire a Sign of Hope for Syrian Refugees?

Date: 
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Source: 
The International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Countries: 
Asia
Western Asia
PeaceWomen Consolidated Themes: 
Peace Processes
Human Rights

Promising news as a United Nations-brokered truce brings a day of relative calm to Syria after weeks of escalating violence:

“I am encouraged by reports that the situation in Syria is relatively quiet and that the cessation of hostilities appears to be holding,” international envoy Kofi Annan said in a statement today. “Syria is apparently experiencing a rare moment of calm on the ground.”

The UN estimates 9,000 people have died since anti-government protests began just over a year ago. Many thousands of others have fled to neighboring countries — including Jordan, where the International Rescue Committee is starting up two health clinics and providing other emergency aid to Syrian refugees.

Here are just a few places where we've been following the latest developments:

New York Times, 4/12/12
In Syria, Activists Report Quiet but No Pullback of Forces

Reuters AlertNet, 4/12/12
Syria truce takes shaky hold, Annan presses Syria

Time, 4/12/12
A Tale of Two Revolutions: Syrian refugees in Libya compare uprisings

BBC, 4/12/12
Syria ceasefire: UN prepares for monitoring mission

CNN, 04/12/12
A tenuous truce holds, but Syria lacking full compliance with peace plan

Al Jazeera, 4/12/12
Protests in Syria as truce 'partly observed'

Global Post, 4/12/12
Syria mostly quiet after cease-fire deadline passes, but tanks remain

BBC, 4/11/12
Refugees across border hope for Syria peace