The United Nations released new figures showing at least 93,000 people have died, but admits that the death toll is most likely much higher.

The U.N. report says that 265,000 deaths were reported, but only victims with a name, date and location of death were counted. Analysts had to sort through duplicate death reports and figure out if the victim was a civilian, rebel or member Syrian government forces.

“This extremely high rate of killings, month after month, reflects the drastically deteriorating pattern of the conflict over the past year,” Ms. Pillay said. “As clearly indicated in the latest report by the Commission of Inquiry on Syria, civilians are bearing the brunt of widespread, violent and often indiscriminate attacks which are devastating whole swathes of major towns and cities, as well as outlying villages. Government forces are shelling and launching aerial attacks on urban areas day in and day out, and are also using strategic missiles and cluster and thermobaric bombs. Opposition forces have also shelled residential areas, albeit using less fire-power, and there have been multiple bombings resulting in casualties in the heart of cities, especially Damascus.” …

Nevertheless, “the killings of at least 6,561 minors, including at least 1,729 children under ten years old – have been documented,” the High Commissioner said. “There are also well-documented cases of individual children being tortured and executed, and entire families, including babies, being massacred – which, along with this devastatingly high death toll, is a terrible reminder of just how vicious this conflict has become.”

A British-based monitoring group says that the dead include 25,040 Syrian soldiers and security personnel, and 17,107 pro-Assad militiamen.

The group estimates that the death toll could be as high as 130,000.

[Photo: FreedomHouse / Flickr]