Aleppo — rebel-held hell. A city that has been under siege and destruction for quite some time due to the ongoing airstrikes. The short-lived US-Russia ceasefire has not proven to be an effective route for the Syrian conflict, which has amassed about 200 airstrikes in Aleppo in just one week alone. More than 100 people have lost their lives to the crumbling of rubble and debris, leaving many widows and orphans behind. Endless counter-attacks have remained in effect, yet the government regime still attains a strong-hold in northern Syria. The ceasefire had an abrupt end after the U.S. held a strike and killed 62 Syrian militants. Russia stated that this was a direct violation of the premise of the ceasefire agreement, and that if this was an error in coordinates, the U.S. still failed to communicate any actions of a terrorist-targeting mission. Although the U.S. claims its intentions were to strike an ISIS base, it is unclear as to why the mission failed to do so.

An attack on an aid convoy this week, which no one has admitted to, as well as this continuous political strife among Russia and the U.S. has caused an uproar within the U.N. Security Council. For years, the U.S. has been the biggest contributing factor financially and in regards to humanitarian efforts to democratize countries. Although this strategy has been efficient, the Security Council remains a weak column in the building of humanitarianism. From Syrian refugees to North Korea’s recent nuclear bomb testings, it is critical that this board of members increase representation among African and Asian countries in order to resolve such pressing issues. Thus far, we have only seen a plethora of failures on behalf of the international community. John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State, claims that the only way to prevent peace resolutions such as the US-Russia ceasefire is for Russia and Syria to end their ongoing military communications. Furthermore, I believe that with an increase in representation of the Security Council, we can see an impartial mediator come into play in terms of protecting such delicate resolutions between two leading countries.

It is evident that this war-torn country is causing severe problems on a global scale. As we move forward into the first 2016 Presidential Debate, one of the questions that will hopefully be addressed is how each of these candidates will handle such a crisis. There are three reasons why this conflict is such a devastatingly severe one: Syria is the headquarters of ISIS, Bashar Al-Assad is committing genocide as Russia and Iran defend the government’s regime, and the fault lines that have emerged from this war are threatening to break-up surrounding regions on a cultural and religious scale. How will our next leader work towards a consensus for such a calamitous problem?

The latest airstrike was carried out on a water pumping station that left almost 2 million people without access to clean water. More than 400,000 deaths have amounted due to the six-year civil war in Syria. As the supposed ‘greatest political minds’ seek-out a resolution, another airstrike hits an innocent family’s home. The global clock for peace is ticking, yet six years later, we await the day when Syria can sew the fabric of its people back together. The world failed Syria this week, but is there room for redemption? Of course. It is just a matter of willingness to put aside the egos of our neighboring countries, and realizing that humans are dying each and every day because of miscommunication and untrustworthiness. So, who is the good and bad guy in this scenario? The government regime, or the rebels? There is no correct answer, because either way killing is happening. Murders are multiplying by the thousands, and with that the humaneness of the world is shifting.

In times like these where fear is the most prevalent emotion, let us remember the assurance of the words of God during war:

Deuteronomy 31: 6: “Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”