Horrifying pictures have emerged showing young victims of an alleged chemical attack on a rebel-held village in Syria.
A rescuer is shown cradling a little boy in his arms after the child was killed during airstrikes on al-Shifuniyah in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta.
Medics say the youngster was poisoned to death in a gas attack as dictator Bashar al-Assad’s forces continue their deadly assault on the region.
Shocking photos also show children and babies gasping for air and using breathing apparatus at a make-shift hospital.
Horrifying pictures have emerged showing a young victim of an alleged chemical attack on a rebel-held village in Syria
A rescuer is shown cradling a young boy in his arms after the child was killed during airstrikes on the rebel-held village of al-Shifuniyah in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta region. Medics say the youngster was poisoned to death in a gas attack
Shocking photos also show children and babies gasping for air and using breathing apparatus at a make-shift hospital in the bomb-ravaged region
At least 13 people showed symptoms following intense regime bombardment, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and a medic who treated those affected.
The Syrian American Medical Society, which supports a hospital in the besieged area, posted pictures on Twitter of small children using breathing apparatus.
‘We confirm that 16 patients, including 6 children and 4 women, suffering from symptoms indicative to exposure to chemical compounds were treated’ at the facility, it said.
Russia, which has backed Assad since 2015, said on Sunday that militants in the area were preparing a ‘provocation’ involving the use of chemical agents. According to Tass, the militants were planning to blame the attack on the regime.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday the situation in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta was highly alarming and militants there were using local civilians as hostages.
‘The terrorists are not laying down their weapons, they are holding the local population as hostages, this is the main cause of a very tense situation,’ he told a conference call with reporters.
At least 13 people showed symptoms following intense regime bombardment, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and a medic who treated those affected
The Syrian American Medical Society, which supports a hospital in the besieged area, posted pictures on Twitter of small children using breathing apparatus
Medics said that 16 patients, including 6 children and 4 women, were suffering from ‘symptoms indicative to exposure to chemical compounds’
Desperate civilians trapped in one of the most ferocious assaults of Syria’s civil war awaited aid and medical help toda yafter regime air strikes pounded rebel-held areas despite UN ceasefire demands
Desperate civilians trapped in one of the most ferocious assaults of Syria’s civil war awaited aid and medical help toda yafter regime air strikes pounded rebel-held areas despite UN ceasefire demands.
More than 500 people have been killed in a major bombing campaign by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces that has hammered the enclave on the edge of Damascus for over a week.
After days of diplomatic wrangling, the United Nations Security Council on Saturday adopted a resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria ‘without delay’ to allow for aid deliveries and medical evacuations.
The resolution raised hopes of stemming the bloodshed, but after clashes continued on Sunday it was unclear when or how broadly the ceasefire would be implemented.
Russia is a key ally of Assad’s regime. In a phone call on Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron urged President Vladimir Putin to use his influence to reach a truce.
Harrowing images show babies gasping for air and using breathing apparatus in a make-shift hospital following the apparent chemical attack
At least 14 civilians including three children were killed in strikes on Sunday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, bringing the total number of dead in the week to 530, among them over 130 children. Pictured: Children being treated after a suspected chemical attack
They called on Russia ‘to exercise maximum pressure on the Syrian regime to achieve an immediate suspension of air raids and fighting,’ Merkel’s office said.
In Douma, the main town in Eastern Ghouta, fresh air raids and artillery strikes could be heard Sunday, an AFP correspondent said.
At least 14 civilians including three children were killed in strikes on Sunday, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, bringing the total number of dead in the week to 530, among them over 130 children.
An aid worker in Douma, quoted by British charity Save the Children, said a brief pause in bombing had prompted people to emerge after a week sheltering in basements.
‘Some people had no food to eat for two or three days,’ the unnamed aid worker said.
Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said there appeared be fewer air strikes but that fighting had intensified on the ground.
Children receive treatment following the suspected gas attack on al-Shifunieh village, in Eastern Ghouta on Sunday
Hundreds have been killed in a wave of airstrikes on rebel-held positions in Eastern Ghouta. Body bags are shown in a make-shift morgue in Douma
Heavy clashes erupted in southern areas of Eastern Ghouta, killing at least 13 members of pro-regime forces and six fighters from the Jaish al-Islam rebel group, he said.
The Britain-based group uses a network of sources across Syria to monitor the country’s conflict.
Mohamed Alloush, a key figure in Jaish al-Islam, tweeted that the rebels were ‘resisting’ bids by regime forces to enter the region.
Eastern Ghouta, home to some 400,000 people, is surrounded by government-controlled territory and its residents are unwilling or unable to flee.
The two main rebel groups controlling the enclave – Jaish al-Islam and Faylaq al-Rahman – welcomed the Security Council demand, but vowed to fight back if there were renewed attacks.
UN diplomats say the resolution was watered down to ensure it was not vetoed by Russia, which has provided diplomatic and military support to Assad’s regime.
Language specifying that the ceasefire would start 72 hours after adoption was scrapped and the term ‘immediate’ was dropped in reference to aid deliveries and evacuations.
UN chief Antonio Guterres, who has described Eastern Ghouta under the bombardment as ‘hell on Earth,’ said the ceasefire must be ‘immediately’ implemented
A total of more than 340,000 people have been killed and millions driven from the homes in Syria’s war, which next month enters its eighth year with no diplomatic solution in sight
In another concession, the ceasefire would not apply to operations against the Islamic State group or Al-Qaeda, along with ‘individuals, groups, undertakings and entities’ associated with the groups.
Syria’s former Al-Qaeda affiliate is present in Eastern Ghouta.
The head of the army in Iran, another key Assad ally, said the Syrian military would continue to target ‘terrorist groups’ in Eastern Ghouta.
Assad’s regime and its allies routinely describe all opposition forces as ‘terrorists’.
‘The zones on the periphery of Damascus… are not covered by the ceasefire and the offensives and clearing operations by the Syrian army will continue,’ said Mohammad Bagheri, according to the official IRNA news agency.
UN chief Antonio Guterres, who has described Eastern Ghouta under the bombardment as ‘hell on Earth,’ said the ceasefire must be ‘immediately’ implemented.
In the enclave, news of the UN vote made little impact.
‘I don’t think this decision will be implemented. It will be respected neither by the regime nor Russia,’ said Douma resident Abu Mazen.
‘We can’t trust Russia or the regime. We are used to their betrayals.’
Rebels in Eastern Ghouta have also been firing into Damascus.
Around 20 people have been killed in eastern districts of the capital since February 18, according to state media.
A total of more than 340,000 people have been killed and millions driven from the homes in Syria’s war, which next month enters its eighth year with no diplomatic solution in sight.