Many young people dropped out of school because jobs were plentiful, says Mr Buey.

ECONOMIST: Spain's new unemployed

Amid the violence, a five-member U.N. team with expertise in politics, peacekeeping and mediation was on the ground in Syria, according to Eduardo del Buey, deputy spokesman for the U.N. secretary-general.

CNN: Syrian rebels move in on key Damascus neighborhood

"We can confirm that a staff member is not accounted for and we are in touch with the relevant parties to determine what has happened, " UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey told the Associated Press.

BBC: Syrian rebel fighters (30 January 2013)