"Widespread attacks and sieges on civilian areas in Syria by pro-government forces are leading to mass casualties, malnutrition and starvation," said the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syrian Arab Spring in its seventh report, covering the six-month period between 15 July 2013 and 20 January 2014.

Paulo Sergio Pinheiro, head of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Syrian Arab Spring, held a press conference on Wednesday before handing the report on Syria to the UN`s Human Rights Council.

The report says more than 250 thousand people are besieged and have no choice but to surrender or starve to death.

The humanitarian commission called on militant groups fighting around the Yarmouk camp, near Damascus, to cease fire, to allow a humanitarian aid corridor to those in urgent need in the camp. It offers shelter to 18,000 Palestinian refugees.

Many people were "denied humanitarian aid, food and such basic necessities as medical care, and must choose between surrender and starvation," the report said, accusing also the government of a "starvation until submission campaign."

NJF/NJF