Hundreds of residents trapped in the district of Darayya in rural Damascus demonstrated on Sunday against the siege regime forces have laid on the district for over three years. Protesters, mostly women and children, held placards demanding lifting the siege and stopping barrel bombing of the district located west of Damascus.
Approximately 8,300 civilians live in dire humanitarian conditions as a result of the siege. It is estimated that 6,600 barrel bombs have so far pounded Darayya, reducing much of the district to rubble.
After many failed attempts to storm the rebel-held district, regime forces launched the biggest offensive so far to recapture it in November, backed by foreign militias and supported by close Russian air cover. Regime forces managed to recapture the area linking Darayya to Muadamiyah, tightening the siege on the two districts. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
