The United Nations and the Arab League on Thursday named former UN general secretary Kofi Annan special envoy for the crisis in Syria, dpa reported.
The news came in a statement from current UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon and Arab League chief Nabil al-Arabi.
The Syrian government has continued its crackdown despite sanctions and the UN General Assembly this month calling on President Bashar al-Assad to step down and demanding an end to the violence.
Among those most at risk in embattled Syria are a rising number of children.
"More and more children are being killed or injured," UNICEF said Thursday.