The UN Syria withdraws all its staff 'not essential' by rising violence

The UN has announced its decision to withdraw all staff "nonessential" international agency working in Syria because of the upsurge in violence in the Arab country. This has been confirmed to reporters the UN spokesman, Martin Nesirky, adding that the agency also suspended its activities in Syria Monitoring Mission (UNSMIS) "until further notice". "The UN has decided to send all non-essential international staff from Syria and end all trips outside the capital at the moment " , said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement. No less than 25 of the 100 members of the UN international staff could come this week in Syria. Since the conflict began, eight UN officials have been killed in the country. In addition, other 18 volunteers of Red Crescent Syrian Arab have been killed since the revolt began in March 2011.