DEATH TOLL FROM SYRIA CONFLICT SURPASSES 200,000: REPORT

The so-called Free Syrian Army militants prepare mortar shells before launching them toward Syrian government forces in the city of Aleppo, northern Syria. (File photo Press Tv) — **The so-called Free Syrian Army militants prepare mortar shells before launching them toward Syrian government forces in the city of Aleppo, northern Syria.** (File photo Press Tv)

Damascus, 10 Shafar 1436/3 December 2014 (MINA) – A so-called human rights monitoring group has said that the death toll from the nearly four-year-long foreign-sponsored militancy in Syria has now gone beyond 200,000 mark.

Rami Abdel Rahman, director of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said on Tuesday that his agency has documented the killing of 202,354 people since March 2011, Press TV quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“Of the total, 63,074 of the killed were civilians, including 10,377 children,” he added.

Abdel Rahman stated that more than 130,000 foreign-backed militants, including 37,324 Syrian nationals, have also lost their lives in the Syrian conflict, while a total of 76,223 Syrian army troopers and pro-government fighters have been also killed in the fighting.

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The group noted that the toll “is probably much higher than 200,000” since fatalities in some remote areas have not been reported.

On Monday, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) announced in a statement that it has suspended providing food vouchers for more than 1.7 million Syrian refugees due to lack of funds.

The UN agency said it has cut the program which provides Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt with electronic vouchers to buy food in local shops.

The WFP added that it needs USD 64 million to support the Syrian refugees in December only.

Syria has been grappling with a deadly crisis since March 2011. Western powers and some of their regional allies — especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey — are reportedly supporting the militants. (T/P007/P3)

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Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)