Seven million displaced in Syrian conflict.

Seven million displaced in Syrian conflict.

a group of Free Syrian Army fighters carry
a woundedcomrade to cover in the town
 of Harem, Syria - File Photo/AP

DAMASCUS | AP | 03 Sep 2013 ::  The United Nations (UN) estimates that five million Syrians have been displaced inside the country due to the ongoing civil war. Another two million have fled to neighboring countries, bringing the total up to seven million, which is nearly one-third of Syria’s population.

Before the outbreak of the conflict, Syria had a population of about 23 million people.

Tarik Kurdi, the representative of the refugee agency in Syria, said that the funding gaps for those displaced remain wide. Donor countries spend less than one-third the amount required to help.

More than 100,000 lives have been lost in Syria’s two-and-a-half-year-old conflict, including the hundreds who were recently killed by an alleged chemical weapons attack on August 21.

While the Syrian government has denied involvement, no proof has so far been submitted to back up the allegations.

In Washington, President Barack Obama was lobbying Congress to support a military strike to punish the Assad regime for its alleged chemical weapons use.

While Obama initially seemed poised to launch military action, the president recently decided to seek congressional approval before deciding on a course of action.

A vote is expected after Congress returns from summer recess on September 7.

On Capitol Hill, senior administration officials briefed lawmakers in private on Sunday to explain why the U.S. was compelled to act against Assad. Further meetings were planned from Monday to Wednesday.

The Arab League, meanwhile, stopped short of endorsing military action.

In an emergency meeting in Cairo on Sunday, it called on the United Nations and the international community to take ''deterrent'' measures under international law to stop the Syrian regime's crimes.(Courtesy:Dawn)Read More>>>

Netanyahu: Israel is ready for every possible scenario on Syria.

Netanyahu: Israel is ready for every 

possible scenario on Syria.

Israeli army Merkava tanks are seen stationed in a deployment
 training area in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights near the
 border with Syria on August 28, 2013. (AFP)

Al Arabia | 01 Sep 2013 :: Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that his country was prepared for “every possible scenario” that could happen in adjacent Syria after U.S President Barack Obama delayed military action.

“Israel is calm and sure of itself, the citizens of Israel know that we are prepared for every possible scenario,” he told ministers at a cabinet meeting, in remarks broadcast on public radio, according to Reuters.

Although the White House is currently waiting for U.S. Congress to convene on Syria, Israel’s military is on high alert over a possible strike, Israel-based news site Ynet reported on Sunday.

U.S. President Barack Obama has chosen to seek congressional approval for military action on Syria.

The Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) Northern Command and Air Force is currently on high alert, with the Iron Dome and Patriot missile systems expected to be positioned in the country’s north and central areas.

Israeli political sources quoted by Ynet noted that waiting for Congress to convene on Syria will mean that the U.S. will not attack Syria until at least ten days. Congress does not return from recess until September 9.

“Obama is determined to take action, and as far as Israel is concerned when an attack is launched is meaningless,” said a source quoted by the website.

“What's important is the president's clear stance that he will not stand idly by.”

By seeking approval from Congress, Obama now risks the same fate as British Prime Minister David Cameron, who was defeated on Friday when he lost his motion in support of military action on Syria.

The Syrian government said on Saturday that it has its “finger on the trigger” as it braced for what it had considered an imminent Western military strike, following the departure of U.N. weapons inspectors.(Courtesy:Al Arabia)