Dushanbe, 26.03.2016 (NIAT “Khovar”). At least 255,000 people have been killed in Syria during the war, some sources say more than 500,000 have lost their lives, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in the Lebanese capital.

According to TASS, Ban called for the soonest possible termination of the conflict and noted the role Russia and the United States play in efforts on peace settlement.

He said 4 million Syrians have become refugees and another 12 million people inside of the country need humanitarian assistance. Ban added that most part of Syria lies in ruins — over 50% of infrastructure has been destroyed.

The UN chief said the war should be stopped as soon as possible, which demands political will of the leaders and decision on the part of Syrians.

On March 24, the first round of indirect intra-Syrian talks ended in Geneva. Their participants — a delegation of the Syrian government and a delegation of the opposition — did not meet each other but communicated through special envoy of the UN secretary general on Syria Staffan de Mistura.

Discussions are due to resume in the first half of April.