Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, March 4, 2018 – The UNSC resolution issued on the 24th of February 2018, was not enough to stop the killing carried out against the citizens of the Eastern Ghouta of Damascus, and Putin’s “humanitarian” truce which is limited for 5 hours daily, failed to stop the bloodshed.
Assad regime and its allies did not preserve their killing machine to cause further destruction and killing in the besieged Eastern Ghouta, which is only about 110 square km of the area of Rif Dimashq province. The regime forces managed to advance in inside Eastern Ghouta, while the aerial, ground, artillery and rocket shelling resulted in the death of more citizens.
The relentless massacres and shelling of the area, which started on February 18, 2018, have continued, where the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the death of 659 persons of the citizens of the Eastern Ghouta, including 154 children and 94 women. Assad’s killing machine using aerial, rocket and artillery shelling on the cities and towns of Douma, Harasta, Arbin, Zamalka, Hamouriyah, Jesrin, Kafr Batna, Hazza, Ash’ari, Nashabiyah, Aftries, Otaya, Al-Shifonyyah, Al-Marj area, Mesraba, Madyara, Beit Sawa, and other areas in the besieged Ghouta of Damascus has continued relentless.
The shelling during the period of 2 weeks, resulted in the injury of more than 3600 citizens including hundreds of children and women with varying severity, leaving some with permanent disabilities. The bodies of dozens of citizens are still under the rubbles of destructed buildings after the aerial, rocket and artillery shelling by the regime forces on the Eastern Ghouta of Damascus.
The total death toll documented by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights with 127 casualties, including 27 children and 18 women. These people were killed and their death documented by the SOHR after the resolution of the UNSC. The resolution failed again to stop the killing of the people of the Eastern Ghouta. The shelling also resulted in the fall of hundreds of wounded, where the number of casualties may increase because of the presence of serious injuries. Amid the tragic humanitarian situation of the people of Ghouta, whom different sources confirmed to the Syrian Observatory, that they do not leave the shelters for the fear of intensive shelling.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitored that the bombardment of the warplanes and helicopters as well as the intensive shelling on the Eastern Ghouta, resulted in destroying 10 hospitals and medical centers in Saqba, Douma, Beit Sawa, Jesrin, Arbin and other areas in the Eastern Ghouta.
With this poor and tragic humanitarian situation, and in conjunction with the continuation of the military operations and attacks by the regime forces on Al-Marj area in the Eastern Ghouta of Damascus, the area has witnessed displacement of hundreds of families from Nashabiyah, Hazrma, Otaya, Beit Sawa Farms, Ash’ari Farms, Mesraba Farms, towards areas away from the combat operations.
There is anticipation for the entry of humanitarian and alimentary aid to the Eastern Ghouta of Damascus, according to the details of the truce, where aid is expected to enter the besieged Ghouta during the next few hours and days.
