"UNITED NATIONS SUPERVISION MISSION IN SYRIA - UNSMIS"

A UNICEF Emergency Specialist coordinating the agency’s emergency response to the crisis in Syria talks about the dangers and the importance of a continued UN presence in Syria, even as the security situation deteriorates. (UNICEF/FILE)

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Veteran diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi will be the new Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and League of Arab States for the crisis in Syria, taking over the peace-facilitation role played over the past several months by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, a UN spokesperson said today (17 August). UNTV / UNHCR

The President of the Security Council for the month of August announced today (16 August) that the mandate of the UN Observer Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) will be allowed to expire and a new liaison office will be established inDamascus. UNTV

The United Nations (UN) Emergency Relief Coordinator said today (16 August) in Syria that as many as 2.5 million people were in need of humanitarian assistance. UNSMIS  

On the second day of a three-day trip toSyria, the top United Nations relief official today (15 August) met with the Syrian foreign minister and visited a center assisting displaced people. UNSMIS

  United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos held talks inSyriatoday (14 August) on ways to increase humanitarian aid to civilians trapped or displaced by intensifying fighting between government and rebel forces. UNSMIS

 The head of the UN observer mission inSyriatoday (13 August) appealed to both sides of the conflict to drop their “mindset of military logic” and prioritize the needs of civilians. UNSMIS

UN Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, Gregory Starr arrived in Syria today and visited the central city of Homs. UNSMIS

The top United Nations peacekeeping official arrived today in Damascus where he will asses the situation as the observer mission (UNSMIS) begins its final 30-day mandate. UNSMIS