In a report released today, the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) said that it documented 1,591 barrel bomb attacks launched by regime forces in August. The attacks targeted mainly populated areas, killing 115 civilians, including 37 children and 31 women.
The report said that the first documented regime attack using barrel bombs against civilians occurred in the town of Salqin in Idlib province on October 1, 2012.
The report added that the victims of these attacks are almost entirely civilians, with children and women accounting for 12-35% of the overall victims.
The Syrian Coalition renews calls on the UN Security Council to enforce resolution 2139 that prohibits the use of barrel bombs in populated areas, to work urgently and seriously to impose safe areas in northern and southern Syria, to ensure the lifting of siege on all areas, and to ensure the introduction of relief aid to the needy civilians.
President Khoja yesterday warned that Assad’s survival in power means the continuation of terrorism, stressing that Assad’s intelligence agencies are the main producer of terrorism. “Assad’s survival will surely lead to the emergence of new extremist groups, both Sunni and Shiite.”
Khoja stresses the need to establish safe areas in northern and southern Syria as the best solution to defend civilians from the Assad regime’s barrel bombs and chemical weapons. Safe areas will also ease the establishment of civil administration which will in turn contribute to the fight against terrorism.
“Safe areas means stability and will enable refugees to return to their homes and will facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to these areas,” Khoja added. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
