Daily Newsletter – 15/10/2013

Syrian Coalition: Lift the Siege and Don’t Hand Civilians to Assad Forces

The Syrian Coalition urges the evacuation of 1,000 residents from Muadamiyah in coordination with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent after pressure from the international community. The Assad regime is not capable to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Muadamiyah. The regime has executed a systematic siege on Muadamiyah in an attempt to suppress the popular revolution there. Red Cross officials have been alerted about the dangers of placing vulnerable people under the care of the regime. However, the Red Cross has replied that it does not have the infrastructure to ensure the safety of families from armed factions or from Assad’s mukhabarat agents. The Syrian Coalition demands that Assad halt his genocide and starvation of civilians in Muadamiyah by ceasing all attacks and allowing humanitarian aid into the area. We also urge the international community to stop neglecting its responsibilities and to immediately begin establishing humanitarian corridors, providing international relief agencies with unfettered access to save civilians in Muadamiyah.

For 331 days the Assad regime has besieged the suburb of Damascus, Muadamiyah, in attempt to bring the Free Syrian Army soldiers within the area to their knees. However there are 12,000 civilians in Muadamiyah, 7000 of them women and children, who have for months now, been without basic necessities. Assad’s newest tool of war is starvation. Children, as they are the most vulnerable to this tactic, have begun to starve to death.

Muadamiyah is one of the most important entrance gates to Damascus and gives access to some of the most sensitive regime security branches. Muadamiyah is also a strategic area because it is neighboring the besieged city of Daraya, which is under the Free Syrian Army’s control.

Combat battalions in the southern areas of Damascus demand the Assad regime to lift the siege on the Ghoutas and southern Damascus. They have been experiencing a suffocating siege by the regime preventing the entrance of all food and essential goods needed by the people. The siege has claimed the lives of many children and other civilians trapped, victims of the starvation war tactic practiced by the Assad regime on the Ghoutas of Damascus. These areas are considered very important entrances to the city and pose a direct risk to regime security branches in the capital Damascus. 

Combat battalions in southern Damascus warned the Assad regime in a statement that “the shelling of regime security branches would begin today in the event of a failure to respond to the call to lift the siege on civilians.” The statement added that “civilians and people in Damascus prevent the combat battalions from shelling the security branches for fear of injuring them during the targeting of regime strongholds and security branches.” The statement called on “residents living near regime security branches to leave to protect their lives during the deployment of the operation.”

It is noteworthy that the Syrian Coalition has reminded the international community time and time again about the necessity of putting immediate pressure on Assad and forcing him to open humanitarian corridors which can secure the food and humanitarian aid to the besieged Ghoutas and southern Damascus. However, analysts have said, “the chemical weapons deal was a carrot which Bashar Assad presented in the form of an agreement with Iran and Russia to the international community to take the attention off of the politics of starvation and besieging targeting the social popularity of the Syrian revolution”.   (Source: Syrian Coalition)

The Syrian Coalition: Eid Mubarak to all Syrians and Confirms that Battles will Continue

The Syrian Coalition confirmed their support for the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Free Syrian Army to defend the rights of the Syrians without exception. The Syrian Coalition stressed that it will work “hand in hand with international humanitarian organizations to alleviate the suffering of the Syrians trapped in the affected areas. We will not leave out any effort to secure the rights of Syrian people.” After recognizes the Syrian people and the pilgrims on the first day of Eid Ul Adha, the Syrian Coalition said in their statement, “our fight for freedom continues, and we will not stop until all the demands of the great revolution of the Syrian people are fulfilled.” The Syrian Coalition added that “it is impossible for the will of the Syrian people to break in the face of a machine of terror and repression.” (Source: Syrian Coalition)

Al Maleh: Egypt’s Forced Emigration of Syrians Goes Against Legal Principles and their Abuse in Detention Centers is Immoral

The head of the legal committee of the Syrian National Coalition, Haitham al-Maleh, said at a conference for the Syrian community in Egypt that Egyptian Security forces send Syrians back to their country. The Syrian National Coalition considers it a flagrant violation of the principles of international law. Maleh also considers what he describes as extortion operations carried out by Egyptian police in detention centers in Alexandria and border crossings as immoral and contrary to the principles of the law. He pointed out the recent incident that took place in Port Said, where some Syrians on their way to Libya were robbed and beaten and then were handed over to the Egyptian security who decided to deport them. Maleh explained that if Egyptian security insists on a deportation policy they must be deported to a safe place and not be handed over to Bashar al Assad’s regime. (Source: Alliance)

11 Dead this evening. 121 dead yesterday.

121 dead in Syria yesterday. Local Coordination Committees in Syria documented 11 people in Syria among them one women. Also, 3 people died in Hama, two in each of Damascus proper, rural Damascus, Daraa, and Aleppo. Also, one in each of Homs and Idleb.  (Source: Local Coordination Committee)

Regime Fighter Jets Strike al Buwayda while a Barrage of Mortars Strike Damascus

Regime fighter jets shelled al Buwayda in rural Damascus killing four people and injuring others. The shelling struck western Ghouta, Daryaa, and al Mleiha killing an entire family. Five civilians were injured by artillery shelling on Bayt Sahm in rural Damascus. The FSA continued to target security branches with mortar shells and homemade rockets for the second consecutive day. Mortar shells fell on the Russian Embassy in al Mazaraa, as well as on the Defense factories in Dahadeel south of the capitol. Also, mortar shells fell around al Qa’a mosque in al Midan in Damascus. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Smart News Agency)

Clashes Between the Free Syrian Army and Regime Forces Around the Concourse and Radar Brigades

The Free Syrian Army clashed with regime forces around the Concourse and Radar Brigades in Daraa. Regime forces continued shelling southern Daraa with heavy artillery. Regime fighter jets struck Tafas injuring many people and destroying many homes. Regime forces shelled al Karak, Sad al Mahata, and al Rafid in rural al Quneitra with heavy artillery injuring many civilians, many of whom are in critical condition. This comes after a significant advance by the FSA against regime forces in Daraa, during which the FSA took control of a number of strategic areas previously under regime control. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Smart News Agency)

Regime Forces Shell al Husn Fort in Aleppo

Regime forces shelled al Husn Fort with heavy artillery and rocket launchers positioned at the top of Ras il Naba in Homs injuring five civilians, mostly women. Regime forces also shelled a; Rastan with mortars from its positions in the Engineering Battalion. Regime forces targeted al Waer in Homs with mortars injuring a number of people. It is noteworthy that this neighborhood is home to a large number of displaced people from nearby towns, who had fled to avoid the regime’s targeting of homes in those areas. The villages al Ghannto and al Hula Valley witnessed fierce heavy artillery bombardment causing material damage and no reports of human injury or death. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Smart News Agency)

The Free Syrian Army Controls al Haya checkpoint in Daraa and a Fierce Response from Regime Forces on al Latamna

The Free Syrian army took control of al Haya checkpoint in Hama after violent clashes with regime forces during which a number of regime forces were killed and injured. Regime forces shelled al Latamna in Hama with heavy artillery killing three people and injuring a large number of others. The bombardment of Aqrab and Khita continues in conjunction with the regime’s siege on the mosques in Hama, preventing worshippers from going to prayer and starting protests against Bashar al Assad’s regime. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Smart News Agency)

A BMP Bomb Explodes Near Regime Strongholds in Aleppo Central Prison

A BMP, rigged as a car bomb, exploded in Aleppo Central Prison while targeting Assad regime forces in the prison. Fierce clashes between the Free Syrian Army and regime forces occurred around the prison as the operation was carried out. Regime forces shelled Bustan al Qasr and al Kallasah with heavy artillery killing a child and injuring other. Regime fighter jets dropped explosive barrels on al Sfeira and fired heavy machine guns on Dayr Hafer injuring many people and causing severe material damage. (Source: Syrian Coalition + Smart News Agency)

Kerry: No Peace Without a Transitional Government with Full Executive Powers

United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, considers achieving peace impossible without a transitional government that takes the place of Bashar al Assad’s regime. After his meeting with the United Nations Envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi in Londn  “we believe that it is urgent to set a date to convene the conference and work toward a new Syria.” He continued, “”President Assad has lost the legitimacy necessary to be able to be a cohesive force, that could bring people together” and therefore “there has to be a transition government, there has to be a new governing entity in Syria.” (Source: Reuters)

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) : Easing the Delivery of Medicines and Ambulances to besieged Areas is Not Less Important than the OPCW Mission

Medical Charity Doctors Without Borders and the Syrian National Coalition called for the opening of humanitarian corridors and allowing the staff of international organizations to move food and medicine to the besieged areas. MSF Director-General Christopher Stokes said, “Humanitarian assistance must immediately deploy to all besieged areas.” He added that “an intense political move” surrounding the chemical weapons allowed inspectors to enter areas that humanitarian workers cannot enter. Director General of MSF said, “Many parts of Syria are under siege and sealed off from aid workers, either because access is blocked by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime or because of the intensity of fighting.” “Syrian people are now presented with the absurd situation of chemical weapons inspectors freely driving through areas in desperate need, while the ambulances, food and drug supplies organized by humanitarian organizations are blocked,” said Stokes. (Source: Syrian Coalition + France 24)

OPCW Calls for a Temporary Ceasefire

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons called for short-term ceasefires to allow experts to reach some of the chemical weapons sites. Head of OPCW explained that fighting in the areas where chemical weapons are believed to be stored is preventing the team from investigating further. It is important to note that the joint OPCW – UN mission is comprised of 60 experts and support staff currently in Syria since the beginning of October.  They are based in Damascus and make regular visits to chemical weapons sites.

(Source: Syrian Coalition + BBC)