It has been attempted before, but failed. So much hope is pinned on this fresh attempt; it is the only hope left for millions of terrified people living in the country and for millions of people who have left and sought refuge in different places. The attempt at truce deserves to be encouraged and backed by countries and international organisations because only that way can the return of many people who voice the same thoughts in the refugee camps and cities that take them in be envisaged. The refugee camp, exile, cannot be the end. The end is being able to return, even without knowing what remains of what once existed.
If the destruction of Palmira was an act of hate, the destruction of Aleppo and of other cities is hate and sheer wickedness. Nothing can be done to make amends for the damage to the villages. But peace is still worthwhile.
The agreements between the United States and Russia for joining forces, even with Bashar Al-Assad’s regime, and fighting the Islamic State that way, may be the only way of stopping the latter’s actions. The peace agreement is unlikely to satisfy many of the people who are suffering the war directly and even observers and NGOs. Russia will play an important role in the area and the power of the current Syrian regime will be reinforced, just the contrary of what was sought five years ago. But the exodus towards the south of Turkey will decrease, as will the number of people who take flight through the Mediterranean.
Only a few days ago, the Council of Europe gave the figure of 268,000 people who had reached Europe by sea this year, and 3,100 who had died or have disappeared. The number of minors is very hard to gauge, but it is known to be very high and that the majority arrive ushered by traffickers and come from different countries. For that reason, peace in Syria will not put an end to these flights, but the number of people who want to get out of the hell by any means at all is bound to drop. And now the hell is in Syria, too.
