The United Nations and Arab League envoy for Syria is painting a bleak picture of conditions inside the war-ravaged country, offering few solutions to the crisis.
Lakhdar Brahimi briefed the U.N. Security Council Monday, telling reporters afterwards, “there is no disagreement anywhere that the situation in Syria is very bad and getting worse.”
Brahimi also reiterated previous comments that the conflict is a threat to both the region and the world. He added that while he has some ideas on how to lessen the crisis, he has yet to formulate a plan that will lead to a solution.
Brahimi visited Syria, as well as refugee camps in Turkey and Jordan, earlier this month, holding meetings with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition representatives.
The Associated Press reports Brahimi told the closed Security Council briefing that Mr. Assad has no intention of carrying out reforms which could help ease the crisis.
Brahimi told reporters, following the briefing, that he has seen signs the Syrian opposition is more united than before, presenting some hope for progress.
Brahimi's briefing came during another day of violence in Syria.
Syrian activists say government warplanes again bombed the country's commercial capital early Monday, killing five people including three children.
The London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the opposition Local Coordination Committees said the early morning strikes destroyed two buildings in the Maadi district in southern Aleppo. Amateur video claimed to show survivors and others digging through the rubble for victims.
In Damascus, Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zoabi said the rebels are headed for defeat.
“It is only a matter of time, and it won't be long. We are heading for a definite victory and it will be achieved very soon. Anyone who is betting against this [victory] whether military, political or security, will fail and is stupid, an idiot or a conspirator.''
Video from Homs, shown on Al Jazeera television, showed smoke rising from parts of the city, amid reports of more shelling and fighting there.
The Syrian conflict is expected to be one of the biggest issues when the United Nations General Assembly gets underway Tuesday in New York.
Meanwhile, there some indications international efforts are starting to make a difference, including those by the U.N.'s World Food Program in Homs.
Country Director Muhannad Hadi says despite the ongoing violence, the WFP remains determined.
“This is one of the areas in Homs that sustained a lot of damage. WFP provides food assistance to the people who live there and will provide more assistance to the people who decide to return.''
The WFP estimates 223,000 people are relying on its help as they live in shelters and mosques.
Eighteen months of fighting between Syrian government forces and rebels opposed to Mr. Assad has left about 20,000 people dead.
