Nasr al-Hariri, Head of the Syrian opposition’s Negotiations Committee, expressed his disappointment over the failure of the international community to relive civilians in Syria, especially children who are trapped in the besieged eastern Ghouta in the Damascus suburbs. The rebel-held area has been subjected to tightened siege by the Assad regime and its allies. Hundreds of the wounded and sick need to be urgently evacuated, according to the latest report by the World Health Organization.
In an event held on the sidelines of the negotiations in Geneva on Wednesday with the presence of a large number of ambassadors and diplomats, Hariri addressed the international community: “What a disappointment! What a shock and what a tragedy! He wondered whether the international community is helpless and unable to deliver bread and milk to eastern Ghouta?
“I hope the ambassadors will send a message that is different from all the official messages,” he said. “It is time that the international community relieve the Syrian people. We should not leave millions of Syrians hostages to the Assad regime and its allies who are testing their new weapons in attacks on the Syrian people.”
Deputy Head of the Committee Khalid Al-Mahamid said that the exact scenario that took place in Wa’ar neighborhood in Homs, the Damascus suburb of Daraya and in many areas across Syria is being repeated in eastern Ghouta. He stressed that “the weapon of starvation has never been used since the Middle Ages.” He said that the Committee called for “the opening of safe passages. Were do not want relief aid but we want safe passages for the delivery of food.”
Member of the Committee Issa Ibrahim said: “We are paying a heavy price because a gang has taken over the state and the authority and because of the international community’s inaction.”
Member of the Committee’s delegation, Firas al-Khalidi, praised the steadfastness being shown by people of eastern Ghouta. “We learned from eastern Ghouta that their steadfastness has exposed the true nature of the world and human rights. The revolution will continue and our strength is that we represent what is right.” (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
