United Nations (UN)
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Disabled refugee children in Jordan
The lesser-known victims of war
Syrian refugee children with disabilities and war injuries are especially in need of help. The Al Hussein Society in Jordan offers them more than just therapeutic support; it also promotes the participation of people with disabilities in society. A report from Amman by Claudia Mende
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Russia and the Syrian conflict
Drop the dictator!
For there to be any hope of an end to the war in Syria, Moscow has to realise that an orderly handover of power in Damascus is in its own interest, writes Kristin Helberg
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Syrian civil war
The end of a dream
In Daraya, a town southwest of Damascus, Assad has triumphed. After four years of continuous bombing and starvation, the last 8,000 residents have capitulated and agreed to be resettled by the regime. By Kristin Helberg
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The siege of Aleppo
Seven levels of hell
The breathtaking ruthlessness of Assad′s regime means that the hoped-for humanitarian corridors, aimed at bringing relief to the besieged residents of Syria′s Aleppo, are never likely to materialise. By Bente Scheller
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Libya
Facing hell in Sirte
The war against the Islamic State Group is taking a heavy toll on Libya, especially on the youth at the front line, and a military victory is only the first step toward stability, writes Valerie Stocker
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Political crisis in Libya
United we stand?
Four months after the signing of one of the UN-backed peace agreements between the conflict parties in Libya, the unity government may have arrived in the capital, but it is still uncertain when it will be able to fully assume power. Valerie Stocker reports from Tripoli
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The Syrian uprising five years on
Alive and kicking
After five years of war, violence and endless suffering, Syrian civil society is sending a clear message to Geneva: "We will not stop until Assad is gone." Assad, however, has no intention of relinquishing power, invoking of all things the wishes of the Syrian people. Kristin Helberg analyses the situation
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Interview with Martin Kobler, UN Special Representative on Libya
"Libya must not become the Syria of tomorrow"
In view of the advance of IS in Libya, the UN's Special Representative on Libya, Martin Kobler, warns of the need for swift action: the Libyan state must reinstate its monopoly on the use of force to enable it to take appropriate counter measures. Karim El-Gawhary spoke to the German diplomat
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Afghan refugees in Pakistan
Underprivileged and unwanted
Pakistan has the second-largest refugee population in the world and the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) is growing too. The country is fighting internal militants and facing huge challenges. Islamabad is struggling to live up to its domestic and international obligations. By Waqqas Mir
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Syria and Geneva III
The great pretenders
As the Geneva III peace talks get underway, there is no sign that the conference will secure an end to the violence in Syria. The Assad regime can participate safe in the knowledge that it has nothing to fear. A commentary by Bente Scheller
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Civil war in Syria
Assad is starving his own people – with impunity
The Syrian dictator is systematically committing war crimes. Nowhere is the failure of the international community so evident. Commentary by Paul-Anton Kruger
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Peace treaty signed by warring factions in Libya
The steep road to national unity
Although the event was not the main focus of international attention, the agreement signed by Libya′s rival factions in the Moroccan coastal city of Skhirat this week is perhaps more important for Europe than the European summit meeting that took place the same day. By Karim El-Gawhary