An Urgent, Serious Action Has to be Taken against the Syrian Regime’s Crimes by the 193 States that Have Signed the CWC
Nearly 50 days into the vicious offensive against Eastern Ghouta, Syrian-Russian alliance forces have managed to take over 80% of the areas of Eastern Ghouta, splitting it effectively into three sectors. Consequently, Syrian-Russian forces started working on separate settlements for each sector that resulted in displacing thousands of civilians. On March 25, negotiations started on Douma city. The agreement included provisions regarding a cessation of hostilities in order to start evacuating groups of civilians as well as some fighters with their light weapons, while those who wish to stay and settle their situation can do so. Also, the agreement provided that some gunmen from Jaish al Islam are to stay with their weapons, where they were to be repurposed as civilian police. 4,500 individuals have been evacuated on four waves in accordance with the agreement.
On April 6, 2018 however, Syrian-Iranian alliance forces resumed bombing Douma city after negotiations were obstructed, as Russian-Syrian air forces carried out about 350 airstrikes over the course of two days while Syrian regime helicopters dropped no less than 120 barrel bombs. Approximately 180,000 civilians remain trapped in Douma city inside shelters and basements in light of an extremely dire situation on all fronts – medical, health, and food as there is no end in sight for the air and ground shelling.
On April 7, 2018, Syrian regime forces carried out two air chemical attacks in northern Douma city within three hours. The first attack was at 16:00 near Sa’da bakery building in Omar ben al Khattab Street that resulted in 15 injuries. The second attack took place at approximately 19:30 near al Shuhada Square in Nu’man area and resulted in the killing of no less than 55 individuals, while 860 civilians were injured at least. Some paramedics and civil defense members reported severe symptoms on the injured, as all of the people who were affected suffered from acute dyspnea, while some suffered from conjunctivitis and miosis.
We’ve acquired a number of pictures and videos that show tens of dead bodies for women and children that are piled up. A blueness had struck their faces, their mouths were covered in foam, and their eyes were startled. These pictures bear a large similarity to the victims’ picture from the Two Ghoutas attacks in August 2013 and Khan Sheikhoun attack in April 2017.