A United Nations panel on the civil war in Syria says the regime of Bashar al-Assad is waging a campaign of siege warfare and starvation against hundreds of thousands of civilians. The Commission of Inquiry says Syrians are being “denied humanitarian aid, food and such basic necessities as medical care, and must choose between surrender and starvation.” The report also faults Syrian rebels for scores of extrajudicial killings. Speaking to reporters, panel chair Paulo Pinheiro says the U.N. Security Council bears responsibility for the ongoing atrocities.

Paulo Pinheiro: “The Security Council bears responsibility for not addressing accountability and allowing the warring parties to violate these rules with total impunity. One of the most stark trends we have documented is the use of siege warfare. The denial of humanitarian aid, food and basic necessities, such as medical care and clean water, has forced people to choose between surrender and starvation.”