ROME- The founder of the Community, Andrea Riccardi, is appealing for a truce which will put an end to the violence and allow civilians to receive the aid they need.

In light of the recent bombing of the Saed al-Ansari elementary school in Aleppo, Syria, the Community of Sant’Egidio has been clear in its opinion that it is shameful that a humanitarian truce has not yet been put in place. The attack caused the death of three teacher as well as five students between the ages of 12 and 15.

Syria’s civil conflict is entering its fifth year and already tens of thousands of people have lost their lives. “It is no longer possible to stand back as the number of victims increases daily…the international community must intervene at once,” stated Riccardi, who is also the driving force behind Save Aleppo, an appeal launched in June 2014. The appeal was launched in the belief that “peace must be achieved in the name of those suffering”, and that we must “build a future” Syria. Thus far, it has received thousands of signatures.