Ahead of the BRICS summit in Syria, a group of eminent people from across the world has asked the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to show their solidarity with the people of the strife-torn country.

The group urged the leaders to make a public appeal to Syrian President Assad to grant the UN unimpeded humanitarian access so that it can reach civilians from across all Syria’s borders.

Since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, emerging countries, especially the BRICS, have taken on a primary role in the international debate over it.