More than 400 killed in Eastern Ghouta

International Desk: More than 400 people have been killed in Eastern Ghouta, a monitoring group said, on the fifth day of the continuing onslaught of aerial bombardment by Syrian government forces backed by Russian warplanes.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 403 people were killed in the "hysterical attack" that began on Sunday, including 150 children. Almost 2,120 others were wounded.

UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire in comments made ahead of Thursday's UN Security Council meeting.

"The humanitarian situation in Eastern Ghouta is appalling and, therefore, we need a ceasefire that stops both the horrific heavy bombardment of Eastern Ghouta and the indiscriminate mortar shelling on Damascus," he said.

He added the ceasefire needs to be followed by immediate unhindered humanitarian access and a facilitated evacuation of wounded people out of Eastern Ghouta, and warned against this being a repeat of Aleppo.

Residents of Eastern Ghouta, a majority of whom are internally displaced, say there is nothing they can do and nowhere to hide.

Rafat al-Abram lives in Douma and is a car mechanic. The air attacks over the last few days have disrupted his job as the street he works on was destroyed by two raids.

"I managed to get some of my tools and equipment out, and fix cars whenever I can," he said.

"Sometimes I also fix the ambulances of the civil defence, which break down often because of their constant usage."

His wife and two teenage daughters, Khadija, 17, and Ola, 15, remain at home. They start their day by sitting together before Abram visits his neighbours to get the latest grim news.

"Sometimes a bombing takes place near where I am working, which means I have to stop and hurry to help the civil defence pull victims from the rubble," he said.

After Abram returns back home, he said he is haunted by the unbearable scenes he witnessed during the day.

"Seeing a father or mother wailing and crying over their dead children, or a father carrying his son who has one leg amputated, or another screaming at God and then at people to help save his family who are all lying under the rubble of a building … I try to comfort them even though I want to sit and cry with them from the horror of what is happening all around us," he said.

Source: Agencies


risingbd/Feb 23, 2018/Mukul