Nabil al-Arabi, the head of the Arab League, and OIC chief Iyad Madani signed an appeal on Sunday, calling on all parties to the Syria conflict to “commit to a total ceasefire and [stop] all acts of violence and fighting in all its forms on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan.”

“The appeal is to stop the bloodshed of Syrians and alleviate their suffering and allow relief organizations to carry out their duties and provide urgent humanitarian assistance,” the appeal read.

The two leaders also called on regional and international powers to support their appeal and persuade the Syrian government and the foreign-backed insurgent groups to put down arms during the fasting month of Ramadan.

Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. According to the United Nations, more than nine million Syrians have fled the Arab country or have been displaced internally because of the violence. According to some sources, some 160,000 people have reportedly been killed since Syria was hit by the violence.

The UN says that more than around nine million Syrians have fled the country or have been displaced internally because of the war.

NTJ/MB