Catastrophe Looming in Alwaer District of Homs as Regime Tightens Siege

Press Release Original in arabic

Syrian Coalition

August 10, 2016

The district of Alwaer in Homs has been suffering under suffocating siege by regime forces for nearly three years now. Regime forces have recently tightened the siege in spite of repeated calls and appeals by the residents to lift the siege on the district.

In addition to the siege, regime forces have recently escalated the bombing of residential neighborhoods in the district with tanks and mortar shells as well as rockets.

The medical office of the Free Council of Homs Governorate has signaled alarm about a looming disaster due to lack of basics, especially medical equipment and supplies. The office warned that power outages threaten the lives of dozens of patients in the district. Fuel needed to run generators in hospitals is about to run out, while regime forces continue to block the entry of medical supplies into the besieged district.

In light of the tragic conditions civilians of Alwaer are facing, international humanitarian organizations, especially the International Committee of the Red Cross, need to assume their duties without delay. The fate of residents of Alwaer and the hundreds of thousands of Syrians trapped in the besieged areas must not be left in the hands of the Assad regime.

The UN Security Council should take concrete action ensure the full enforcement of the resolutions it passed on Syria. The UN Security Council should also press for ensuring the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2139, most importantly the provisions of the resolution calling for protecting civilians and lifting the blockades on the besieged areas across Syria.

May our wounded recover, our detainees be free, and our fallen heroes rest in peace.

Long live Syria and its people, free and with honor.