The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor and the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) condemned the massacres being committed against civilians in eastern Ghouta by the Russian and Assad regime air forces as they called on the Council to “take decisive measures” to protect civilians.
In a joint statement released on Monday, the rights watchdog groups called for the facilitation of relief work and the opening of safe corridors for the delivery of aid to the civilians trapped in the Damascus suburb. They noted that the Assad regime and its allies continue to violate UN Security Council resolution 2401 demanding a ceasefire in Syria.
“In collaboration with the Russian forces, the Syrian army had committed dozens of massacres and extrajudicial killings since 24 February 2018 (the date of the resolution) until the evening of March 11,” stated the statement.
“During the past 10 days, the Syrian forces have intensified the shelling and airstrikes on eastern Ghouta using incendiary weapons, chemical weapons, cluster munitions and at least 172 explosive barrels. These attacks are evidence to the significant rise in attacks when compared to pre-UNSC resolution, in a clear and explicit disregard to the Council and its resolutions.”
The two monitoring groups noted that at least 524 civilians have been killed, including 83 children, 55 women, 3 medical personnel and 5 civil defense personnel, while at least 20 massacres against civilians have been reported.”
“The attacks also affected vital centers in eastern Ghouta,” stated the two organizations, who recorded at least “nine attacks.”
“About 1,000 people need medical evacuation, including about 700 people who need urgent treatment.”
“According to WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic, only 29 patients and wounded have been evacuated by the Syrian Red Crescent from Syria’s eastern Ghouta for treatment since last December.”
The statement call on the UN Security Council “to take decisive measures to ensure that the ceasefire is taking effect, with the fighting completely halted for medical evacuation and aid delivery in particular.”
The two groups further also call on the UN Security Council to “take measures to ensure that perpetrators of these massacres are brought to justice.” (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
