Appeal to Save Lives of Civilians in Irbeen Town & Rest of Eastern Ghouta

Press release

Syrian Coalition

Media Department

December 6, 2017

The situation in the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta in general and in the town of Irbeen in particular is further deteriorating with each passing day. The international community, meanwhile, is completely absent as it has so far failed to assume its responsibilities.

The Syrian Coalition warns the international community of the consequences of its negative position and its complete failure to take action to put an end to the atrocities being committed by the Assad regime against the Syrian people backed by the Russian air force and the foreign militias.

Over the past three weeks, eastern Ghouta have been a hell of fire and destruction as cluster bombs and chemical weapons, especially chlorine gas, have been rained on civilians in eastern Ghouta. At least 47 people have been killed in the town of Irbeen alone in the past three weeks, mostly women and children. A total of 200 civilians have been killed and hundreds more injured in eastern Ghouta over the same period.

The suffering that has been inflicted on the people of eastern Ghouta is beyond endurance. Nothing but death is awaiting them if the international community and active players do not take action to save their lives and put an end to the relentless bombardment and siege imposed on them for nearly five years.

It is time that the international community stops wasting time having repeatedly failed to take action thus bearing primary responsibility for the current situation in Syria. Major players in Syria are obliged to take serious action to put an end to the Assad regime’s crimes and siege; hold those responsible to account; and salvage the political process in line with UN resolutions and the Geneva Communique of 2012 before it is too late.