Canada will ease sanctions on Syria and provide $59 million in new funding for humanitarian assistance, Canada’s foreign affairs minister Mélanie Joly announced.

According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, more than 1,500 people have been killed in outbreaks of violence in Syria this month, including at least 1,068 civilians.

Ms Joly said Canada had expressed its deep concern about the egregious violence that had occurred.

“We utterly condemn these atrocities and call on the interim authorities to take all necessary measures to end the violence,” said Ms Joly. Civilians must be protected, the dignity and human rights of all religious and ethnic groups must be upheld, and perpetrators must be held accountable.’’

An agreement between the interim authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces is a “potential step toward greater stability and improved conditions’’ for Syrians, Ms Joly said.

She added, “However, meaningful implementation will be key to ensuring lasting progress.’’

Canada would ease existing sanctions for six months, to support democratisation, stabilisation and the delivery of aid to and within Syria.

Canada’s ambassador to Lebanon, Stefanie McCollum, had been nominated to serve concurrently as non-resident ambassador to Syria, Ms Joly said.

“We call on all parties to prioritise the work toward de-escalation and national reconciliation and prevent the country from descending into fragmentation and violence,’’ she explained.

Clashes erupted in Syria after government forces were targeted in a string of attacks and ambushes blamed on long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad’s armed supporters.

According to a war monitor, the conflict is Syria’s deadliest since an Islamist-led rebel alliance deposed al-Assad and took power in December.

The figures could not be independently verified.

(dpa/NAN)