SYRIA'S civil war has ravaged vital infrastructure and halved output of staple crops, the United Nations said.
What began as a protest movement against President Bashar al Assad has killed more than 60,000 people, devastated the economy and left 2.5 million hungry.
Prospects of a negotiated peace have receded as the war becomes more overtly sectarian, making Western powers wary of supporting the largely Sunni Muslim rebellion.
We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.
Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.
