22 November 2016, 17:08 GMT
MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The so-called Arab Spring protests in Syria that took place in 2011 resulted in clashes between the government forces and opposition. Since then, the Middle Eastern country has been mired in a war between authorities in Damascus, numerous opposition factions, as well as terrorist groups. The international community, including the United Nations, has undertaken steps to end the Syrian conflict and to improve the humanitarian situation in the Middle Eastern country.
"It is very heartbreaking and it is very regrettable that we still see so many people, children, women are dying… because of the lack of political leadership and vision and humanity by the leaders of Syria… This may be recorded as one of the failures of the United Nations, but it is sort of a collective failure," Ban told the CNN broadcaster in a Tuesday interview, which was dedicated to the forthcoming end of Ban's tenure.
Ban is due to step down by the start of 2017 after almost a decade in office. He will be succeeded by Portuguese diplomat Antonio Guterres.
