No chance against silent killer
Victims of direct hit in Syrian gas attack would have died instantly, says medic
THE victims were found exactly where they had been when the gas hit – their silent killer had given little warning. One father had a protective arm around his young wife and baby. An infant in nappies was still holding his older brother’s hand.
None bore any sign of injury. And they would have looked peaceful in sleep if not for their blushed faces and frothing mouths.
Several families had been seeking shelter in a house in the Syrian town of Douma, in what remains of rebel-held Eastern Ghouta, when what is believed to have been a chemical bomb struck its roof at 8.45pm on Saturday.
Rescuers who reached the house knew immediately this attack was different.
It appeared that the gas, heavier than air, had sunk to the basement.
Those on the first floor or above were less affected and were taken to hospital with difficulty breathing, slow heartbeats, corneal burns and shivering, according to Mohammed, a medical student in Douma.
“But none of those underground made it,” he said. “The gas would have killed them instantly.”
The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organisations counted more than 70 dead and 500 injured, but expected the toll to rise once they were able to begin a search for bodies.
The incident appeared to be the deadliest chemical attack in Syria since sarin gas was dropped on the northern town of Khan Sheikhoun a year ago, killing more than 80 people.
“After four years in the hospital, I have never seen anything like what happened,” Mohammed, who did not wish to give his surname, said.
“Most of the infants who initially came, died. We could help only three.
“We have only four oxygen machines and could use them only for the most serious cases.
“Right before they died, the victims were having trouble breathing, choking, with foam coming out of their mouth.
“We couldn’t give them much help because we don’t have the capacity to treat this many people.”
He said the hospital had been bombed six times in the past two days, and most of the town’s medical points and ambulances were out of service.
Medics on the ground reported smelling a chlorine-like substance but said patients’ symptoms and the large death toll pointed to a more noxious substance, such as nerve agent sarin.
“The number of casualties is so high and that’s not typical for chlorine,” Dr Ahmad Tarakji, the president of the Syrian American Medical Society, which assists hospitals in Eastern Ghouta, said.
“Unfortunately, because of a lack of resources, we can’t take blood samples.”
Pictures from the scene showed the remains of what experts said was a modified chlorine cylinder, similar to those used in previous regime attacks. “Frequently, these chlorine cylinders land in open spaces so the casualties are lower but this was a direct hit,” Eliot Higgins, a search research associate at King’s College London, said.
The regime has in the past mixed chemicals such as chlorine and sarin together in an apparent bid to confuse first responders, and to pollute any potential evidence.
Both Syria and its Russian backer denounced the allegations yesterday as fabrications, while Iran, another of Bashar al-Assad’s patrons, called it a conspiracy.
Al-Assad’s forces had been close to victory in Eastern Ghouta, with only Douma standing in its way. Facing military defeat, rebel groups in other parts of the Damascus suburb opted for safe passage to other opposition-held areas rather than stay and fight. But Jaish al-Islam rejected this, demanding to stay in Douma.
Saturday’s alleged attack pushed the holdout rebels back to the negotiating table.
Hours later, they agreed to a Russian evacuation deal, signalling the end of the rebellion. Reports sparked international outrage. But as Syrians have learnt over the years, those responsible are unlikely to ever be held to account.
France said yesterday it would work closely with the United States on a response.
Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump agreed during a telephone call on Sunday that chemical agents were used in the deadly attack on April 7, the Elysee palace said in a statement.
The assault on Douma will be a test of Macron’s credibility after he issued repeated warnings that “France will strike” if it is proven chemical attacks have been used in Syria.
The French stopped short of apportioning blame on forces loyal to al-Assad for the attack.
“All responsibilities in this area must be clearly established,” the Elysee statement said.
The White House comment was more robust.
It said the two leaders had agreed the al-Assad regime must be held accountable for its continued human rights abuse” and pledged to coordinate a strong, joint response. – © The Telegraph, AFP