UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations Security Council has failed the people of Syria, over 20 international aid organisations charged in a report released on Thursday.

They pointed out the council had failed to implement three resolutions it passed last year seeking to boost humanitarian assistance to Syrian civilians.

The aid groups maintained the resolutions had been “ignored or undermined by the parties to the conflict, other UN member states, and even by members of the UNSC itself”.

The aid groups, including the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council and Handicap International, called upon UN members to ensure the resolutions were fully implemented.

The report was released as Syria enters its fifth year since an uprising that has turned into civil war began in March 2011.

Take a look: Following Syria massacre, UN envoy urges Security Council to act

Another UN-backed report released on Wednesday said the war had plunged 80 per cent of Syrian people into poverty, reduced life expectancy by 20 years and led to massive economic losses estimated at over $200 billion since the conflict began in 2011.

The Syrian Centre for Policy Research painted a devastating picture of the “systematic collapse and destruction” of Syria’s economic foundations in the report, saying the nation’s wealth, infrastructure, institutions and much of its workforce have been “obliterated”.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2015

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