With the war in Syria growing increasingly bloody, the United Nations is once again attempting to devise a political solution to the conflict. A few weeks ago, UN Special Envoy to Syria Steffan de Mistura proposed a ceasefire plan for the country. The proposal attempts to halt conflict in the city of Aleppo, where fighting between government and rebel forces has yielded nothing but a bloody stalemate. This proposal gives a chance for aid workers to help Syrians trapped in Aleppo. It would also be an opportunity to shift international focus to combating ISIL’s growing power.

Response to the proposal has been mixed to say the least. The Assad government has suggested the proposal is “worth studying”. But the Syrian government has been accused time and time again of breaking truces and violating ceasefire agreements . The opposition is also divided over the proposal. The Free Syrian Army rejected the proposal, claiming the deal would benefit Assad. The Syrian National Coalition, on the other hand, said it would only endorse the proposal if it were part of a comprehensive, political solution. The point of this approach, however, is to create small cease fire zones, and use these as stepping stones to a broader solution to the conflict. It’s unlikely the UN will propose any broader solutions until piecemeal reform is first accomplished.

There is some reason to believe this approach might be successful. A recent report from the London School of Economics found local ceasefires to be effective in reducing the number of casualties. A cease fire in Aleppo, if successful, could become the root of a better strategy in Syria. Instead of taking a national solution, peace efforts could be focused in a variety of areas, and work up from there. Such an approach would not become bogged down due to their size, and could effectively grow.

Photo Credit: Los Angeles Times

Umar Farooq