Russia trying to heal wounds of war in Syria
dar al kabirah, syria — At a mobile medical clinic in central Syria’s Homs province, a Russian doctor takes an elderly woman’s blood pressure. Nearby, his colleague examines a dazed teenager on a gurney.
“Take half a pill in the morning and the second half at night,” the Russian doctor tells the woman through a translator.
The pop-up facility outside of rebel-held DarAl Kabira in central Syria is one of several medical units deployed by Moscow, which has remained a close ally of President Bashar Al Assad throughout the six-year conflict.
Russia began an air war in support of Assad in 2015, swinging the conflict in his favour, but it is now increasingly seeking to depict itself as a peacemaker and humanitarian donor in the war-devastated country.
The evidence is on clear display near Dar Al Kabira, where Russia is monitoring a “de-escalation zone” between regime and rebel forces agreed in August.
This week, civilians from both sides could be seen queueing to get sacks of food bearing the slogan “Russia is with you!”
Russian army Colonel Alexander Sazonov, head of the Al Dar Al Kabira checkpoint, said the buffer zone had been set up two months ago and was already improving the situation for civilians. “Before, there was no medical aid for five years, and people couldn’t meet their loved ones,” Sazonov said.
The zone in Homs province is part of a deal agreed in May by Russia, regime ally Iran, and rebel backer Turkey to create four “de-escalation” areas in Syria. Syria’s conflict has killed more than 330,000 people since it began in March 2011.
Sazarov says about 10 tonnes of aid is distributed weekly at Dar al Kabirah, insisting that “we would like there to be more aid.”
“But right now Russia is the only one doing any of this.”
Russian trucks marked “Help to Syria from Russia” shuttled in aid packages containing sugar, grain and canned meat. “From here it’s about 500 metres to the fighters,” Sazarov said. “If you’re not a fighter with blood on your hands, you can go in and out.” Residents crossing from the Syrian government side of the checkpoint had their belongings and IDs checked before hurrying through. —