Syrian opposition pleads for world to save eastern Ghouta

Syria’s opposition yesterday urged the international community to save those trapped in the besieged Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta.

The UN-brokered peace talks in Geneva have been overshadowed by frustration over access to the suburb.

Yesterday, the unified opposition held an event in Geneva to focus attention on the plight of Syrians trapped in eastern Ghouta, who they say are victims of “crimes against humanity”.

“If the international community is serious about a political solution and de-escalation, all must act now to save the hundreds of thousands on the brink of death in eastern Ghouta,” said Hanadi Abou Arab, deputy head of the opposition.

The eastern Damascus suburb is among the last opposition strongholds in Syria and is in one of four war-free zones, where fighting between regime forces and rebels was supposed to cease under a deal brokered by regime allies Russia and Iran, and rebel supporter Turkey this year.

“We are here not to share emotions but to share humanity,” Ms Abou Arab. “Many people are alive but only a few who carry humanity within.”

Conditions for the population of 400,000 have deteriorated rapidly since 2013. The have been largely cut off from food and medicine, and under constant bombardment.

“Most of the schools have been closed in the last month because of the bombing. Such acts are categorised as crimes against humanity,” she said.

Meanwhile, talks resumed in Geneva between UN officials and the opposition delegation in a bid to end the war.

“We went into all sorts of details about the electoral process,” opposition spokesman Yahya Aridi said.

“It was discussed within the framework of political transition, which is going to be the subject of our last session in this round tomorrow.”