UN Team in Syria for Chemical Weapons Probe

 

Emily Dutton, 

Corrspondent (Asia: Middle East)

 

DAMASCUS — After months of negotiation, a team of 20 UN experts have arrived in the Syrian capital of Damascus to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons in the country. It was a significant development for the UN and one that desperately needed to take place according to British Foreign Secretary William Hague, ‘I call on the Syrian government to allow immediate access to the area for the UN team currently investigating previous allegations of chemical weapons use.’ Investigations have been welcomed by Syrian opposition and although the outcome will not reveal who (if anyone) is responsible for using the weapons, it will provide a definite answer as to if they have been used at all.

The issue of chemical weapons became especially prominent in July 2012 when Syria admitted to possessing a stockpile of chemical weapons for ‘national defence against foreign countries.’ Since then, a number of attacks have taken place with devastating consequences.  One being the attack in Khan Al-Assal, which is one of three places under investigation. During the incident, at least 26 people were killed.

Already, some are worried that the investigation will not be enough. Under terms agreed by the Syrian government, investigators are only permitted to reveal whether or not chemical weapons have been used and not who may be responsible for using them. Also investigations are also only taking place in three locations, one being in Khan Al-Assal and the other two being kept a secret. It is hoped, however, that the investigation and its outcome should be enough to act as a deterrent to those thinking of using chemical weapons in the future.

The Syrian opposition party has been very vocal in welcoming the investigation, claiming that government troops are guilty of using chemical weapons. In Khan Al-Assal, the Syrian government and Russia blame rebels for the suffering caused. The investigation will not reveal who is responsible for using the weapons therefore neither claim will be verified by the result.

Regardless of the outcome of the investigation, the situation in Syria now appears to have reached a devastating low with ordinary civilians at the heart of the crisis. After a recent attack on a Damascus suburb, one man treating an injured child was asked what the little boy has done to deserve this, to which he replied, “What happened confirms the clear failure of the United Nations.” His words reflect the feelings of many Syrian people who feel extremely let down and angered. They truly need this intervention to prevent events spiralling even further out of control.

 

Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Syrian_soldier_aims_an_AK-47.JPEG); Wikimedia Commons (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/William_Hague_2010_cropped_flipped.jpg)