A family flees from their home at Karm al-Zeitoun near Homs March 13, 2012. (Photo: Reuters)

The Syrian government has allowed the UN and international agencies in Syria to expand their humanitarian operations to help at least 1 million people after 14 months of bloody conflict. An agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday by the Syrian government and the UN in Switzerland. The UN will be allowed open its humanitarian offices in 4 cities, including hot spots Homs and Idlib. The operation will last over 6 months with the budget of 185 millions USD.

In the related news, Syrian opposition on Monday declared it was no longer committed to the UN-brokered ceasefire agreement because President Bashar al-Assad did not end the violence by the deadline on June 1. The opposition said it only launched attacks on forces loyal to al-Assad to protect “Syrian citizens”.