United Nations relief Chief to travel to Damascus to urge Syrian authorities to allow relief workers access to stricken country.

Valerie Amos announced that she will be going to Syria on Wednesday of this week. She will be allowed a two day stay. She will depart that country on Friday, March 9th.

Syrian authorities delayed her trip to Syria which prompted the UN to voice their disappointment last week over the delay. Thursday, Syrian tanks entered the city of Homs causing a widespread retreat of rebels into the country side. Reports of rampant killings by the government’s troops are widespread. The Syrian Network for Human Rights has been reporting on the recent deaths through the week and have reported 66 deaths in the afflicted area just yesterday alone. Human Rights Watch estimates 700 people died in this latest attack.

There are many reports of deaths of women, children, and at times entire families as the government troops move to secure the area of the the insurrection. Opposition and Human Right activists report a widespread round up of all boys over the age of 14. Reports of torture and killing of these children has been circulated, but cannot be confirmed. One woman, who had been walking for three days, told reporters that troops rounded up 36 men and boys from her neighborhood and slit their throats.

The International Red Cross has reached the areas outside of the former rebel stronghold, but still are refused access to the city. Meanwhile, electricity, water and communications have been cut off. Temperatures have plummeted, food is very low and snow has begun to fall.