A/HRC/31/68 Contents Page I. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 3 A. Challenges ............................................................................................................................... 3 B. Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 3 II. Political context ................................................................................................................................ 3 III. Dynamics of the conflict .................................................................................................................. 5 IV. Destruction of a country ................................................................................................................... 7 A. Destruction of cities, towns and villages ................................................................................. 7 B. Attacks on medical care ........................................................................................................... 10 C. Attacks on education................................................................................................................ 11 D. Attacks on public spaces .......................................................................................................... 12 E. Cuts to electricity and water .................................................................................................... 12 F. Destruction of cultural heritage ............................................................................................... 13 Devastation of a nation ..................................................................................................................... 14 A. Tearing of the social fabric ...................................................................................................... 14 B. Fracturing of communities ....................................................................................................... 15 C. Devastation of basic conditions of life ..................................................................................... 17 D. Dismantling of the economy .................................................................................................... 18 VI. Clandestine marketplaces ................................................................................................................. 19 VII. Conclusions and recommendations .................................................................................................. 20 A. Conclusions ............................................................................................................................. 20 B. Recommendations.................................................................................................................... 21 I. Correspondence with the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic .............................................. 24 II. Damage assessment of Omar Ibn al-Khattab mosque, Jisr al-Shugur (Idlib) .................................. 26 III. Damage assessment of Husseiniya (Hasakah) ................................................................................. 27 IV. Damage assessment of Al-Eis field hospital (Aleppo) .................................................................... 28 V. Damage assessment of Palmyra ruins (Homs) ................................................................................ 29 VI. Security Council resolutions on the Syrian Arab Republic ............................................................. 30 VII. Map of the Syrian Arab Republic..................................................................................................... 31 V. Annexes 2