Barrel Bombs on Besieged Palestinian Refugee Camp Yarmouk

Press Statement

Khalid Saleh

Syrian Coalition Media Office President

Istanbul, Turkey

January 17, 2014

The Syrian Coalition holds Russia and Iran directly responsible for the continued bloodshed and escalated violence against innocent civilians in Syria. The Assad regime’s helicopters dropped barrel bombs, yesterday, Thursday, on the Palestinian refugee camp Yarmouk, south of the capital Damascus, killing at least 9 people and wounding many, according to activists from the camp.

Yarmouk camp has been under siege by Assad’s forces for more than six months. Around 20 thousand civilians remain trapped in the area with no access to clean water, food, or medicine. Spokesperson of the United Nation’s Relief and Work Agency UNRWA, Chris Gunness, said earlier that at least 15 Palestinians have died of malnutrition since September in Yarmouk Camp.

Russia continues to cover up the Assad regime’s crimes, thwarting efforts at the UN Security Council to condemn Assad’s bombing of residential areas with explosive barrels. In many ways, Russia is also trying to legitimize the Assad regime’s policy of “starvation until submission” against civilians in Syria.

We ask for Mercy for our martyrs, health for our wounded, and freedom for our detainees.

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