An activist-run Syrian war monitor estimates that around 560,000 people, including fighters and civilians, have died since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011.
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Monday that it had identified more than 367,000 of those killed by name.
The updated death toll, released on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, said around 111,330 civilians were among those killed.
The toll, however, does not include around 88000 people allegedly killed in government-run prisons, the SOHR says.
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Read more:
ISIS launches counterattack against SDF in eastern Syria
US observation posts in Syria aim to block Turkish attacks on YPG
Desperate Syrians risk lives at sea escaping Lebanon
Comment: Trapped between Turkey and the Assad regime, Syria's Kurds are now being squeezed by the US
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Realities on the ground make it increasingly hard to pinpoint precise numbers and international organisations have stopped monitoring the death toll in Syria because they say they are unable to verify source material on deaths.
The UN, which released regular reports on the death toll during the first years of the war, has stopped documentation efforts because it doesn't have full access to the country. Its last estimate in 2016 put the number of those killed at 400,000.
Activist-run monitors, including the SOHR, are still compiling casualty estimates by working with contacts on the ground and collecting open source reports from the news and social media networks.
However, their numbers have not been verified by international groups and vary widely between one organisation and the other.
The Syrian Network for Human Rights, which uses tactics similar to those of the SOHR to track deaths, has put the death toll at 222,114 since the start of the war. However, the group only counts civilian deaths, while the SOHR also tracks the death of fighters, insurgents and Syrian troops.
The Violations Documentation Center (VDC), another activist-run monitor, says that a total of 190,891 people have been killed between March 2011 and October 2018.
Fighting has dialled-down in Syria in recent months after Syrian government forces and their allies regained control of several strategic opposition-held areas, including the Eastern Ghouta suburbs of Damascus.
Syria’s government held just 20 per cent of the country at the beginning of 2017, but it now controls more than 60 per cent of Syrian territory.
The government has also routed ISIS from some of its main strongholds in Syria, including holdouts in southern Syria and the eastern province of Deir Ezzor in recent months.
Militants continue to command a pocket near the Iraqi border, but they are coming under constant attack by a US-backed coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters.
Although fighting has winded-down, a highly-anticipated battle looms over Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold in the country.
Russia and Turkey brokered a deal in September to create a demilitarized zone in the province, in an attempt to prevent a military offensive on the area.
However, the deal has been undermined by routine violations committed by both rebels and the Syrian government, leading to concerns that the agreement may collapse.
The UN and international aid organizations have warned that an offensive on Idlib would mark the worst humanitarian catastrophe in Syria since the start of the war.
Idlib is home to more than 2.5 million people, nearly half of whom have been displaced from other parts of the country.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Napoleon
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Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Manchester United v Barcelona, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Ways to control drones
Countries have been coming up with ways to restrict and monitor the use of non-commercial drones to keep them from trespassing on controlled areas such as airports.
"Drones vary in size and some can be as big as a small city car - so imagine the impact of one hitting an airplane. It's a huge risk, especially when commercial airliners are not designed to make or take sudden evasive manoeuvres like drones can" says Saj Ahmed, chief analyst at London-based StrategicAero Research.
New measures have now been taken to monitor drone activity, Geo-fencing technology is one.
It's a method designed to prevent drones from drifting into banned areas. The technology uses GPS location signals to stop its machines flying close to airports and other restricted zones.
The European commission has recently announced a blueprint to make drone use in low-level airspace safe, secure and environmentally friendly. This process is called “U-Space” – it covers altitudes of up to 150 metres. It is also noteworthy that that UK Civil Aviation Authority recommends drones to be flown at no higher than 400ft. “U-Space” technology will be governed by a system similar to air traffic control management, which will be automated using tools like geo-fencing.
The UAE has drawn serious measures to ensure users register their devices under strict new laws. Authorities have urged that users must obtain approval in advance before flying the drones, non registered drone use in Dubai will result in a fine of up to twenty thousand dirhams under a new resolution approved by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.
Mr Ahmad suggest that "Hefty fines running into hundreds of thousands of dollars need to compensate for the cost of airport disruption and flight diversions to lengthy jail spells, confiscation of travel rights and use of drones for a lengthy period" must be enforced in order to reduce airport intrusion.
INDIA%20SQUAD
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EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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Results
ATP Dubai Championships on Monday (x indicates seed):
First round
Roger Federer (SUI x2) bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6-4, 3-6, 6-1
Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2
Marton Fucsovics (HUN) bt Damir Dzumhur (BIH) 6-1, 7-6 (7/5)
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) bt Karen Khachanov (RUS x4) 6-4, 6-1
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) bt Milos Raonic (CAN x7) 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
