Aid agencies demand end to Ghouta siege
Third day of slaughter of civilians in Syria ‘violates UN resolutions’
THE CIVILIAN deaths in eastern Ghouta continue to rise under the relentless and indiscriminate bombing campaign being carried out by the Syrian military. Full military force is being used, and according to humanitarian agencies on the ground, an estimated 70 civilians were killed yesterday alone, with more than 296 wounded.
Sources have told Independent Media that a total of 13 hospitals and humanitarian facilities were also targeted, leaving thousands in a humanitarian catastrophe. Since Sunday, it has been alleged that a total of 22 hospitals have been put out of service.
According to the Syrian ambassador in Pretoria, HE Onfouan Naeb, the reason the Syrian government has been attacking Eastern Ghouta is in retaliation for recent rocket attacks being aimed at the Syrian capital, Damascus.
“The main problem is that the terrorists based in Eastern Ghouta – who are foreign mercenaries and not Syrian – attacked Damascus three weeks ago with rockets.”
According to a letter from the Syrian Foreign Ministry to the UN secretary-general, the terrorists in Eastern Ghouta have fired more than 1 500 shells at Damascus in the past seven weeks, injuring dozens of civilians.
“Just yesterday, the terrorists launched a hundred rockets at our capital, Damascus, and our civilians have also been affected. We will always act in defence of our people,” Naeb said.
He denied reports that civilians were being killed in the Syrian military onslaught, and maintained that any left in the area were being used by the terrorists as human shields. Naeb also said the Arab Red Crescent accessed the area a few days ago.
Ghanem Tayara, aid body UOSSM’s chairman and Birmingham UK GP, has said: “This is the third day of slaughter of the people of Ghouta… their actions violate countless UN resolutions.
“In military battles, even the dead and wounded are allowed to be cleared. The civilians of Ghouta are afforded no such dignity.
Their hospitals, schools, food warehouses are destroyed and they are condemned to a slow and painful death. There are men, women and children dying in collapsed buildings. It must stop now.”
Humanitarian organisations on the ground are demanding that the international community take urgent action to end the siege and open safe aid corridors into Eastern Ghouta for medical aid, food supplies and the immediate evacuation of more than 600 patients who are in a critical condition.
Dr David Monyae, of the University of Johannesburg, has called on the South African government to raise its voice in defence of the civilians.
“Where are the voices of our political leaders in condemning this unfolding human tragedy?” he asked.