almost 93,000 people were killed in Syria's
conflict by the end of April this year, but the
true number could be "potentially much
higher".
The exact figure released on Thursday –
92,901 people – is much higher than the
UN's last death toll back in January of 59,000
people.
"The constant flow of killings continues at
shockingly high levels," said Navi Pillay, the
UN high commissioner for human rights.
"This is most likely a minimum casualty
figure. The true number of those killed is
potentially much higher."
An average of more than 5,000 people have
been killed every month since last July, while
rural Damascus and Aleppo have recorded
the highest tolls since November, the report
said in its latest study compiling documented
deaths.
Among the victims were at least 6,561
children, including 1,729 children younger
than 10.
The UN has acknowleged it has
"underreported the number of deaths", as
evident when Human rights groups released
higher figures.
Rupert Colville spokesman for Pillay, told reportnaija that there were huge constraints on
estimating the number of people who had
died in the conflict.
"We're reliant, really, on some very brave
activists who since the beginning of this
conflict have done there best to keep track of
how many people have been killed," Colville
said.
The report said UN teams on the ground and
activists had found evidence of children
being tortured during the conflict.
"We've all seen videos and photos of children
who have been tortured to death, children
who have been summarily executed, " Colville
said.
"We've seen entire families that have been
slaughtered, including babies even, and then
you've got children who have been killed by
indiscriminate shellfire, missiles, aerial
bombardment and a general, no-holds-barred
conflict."
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