Special report: documenting the most prominent violations against media activists in Syria regarding murder, torture, arrest, and abduction.

Killing  22 media victims including 2 who were tortured to death by security forces

Prepared by Syrian Network for Human Rights:

Date of Report: 4 November 2013

Subject: documenting major violations against Media Activists in Syria.

Period covered: from 1/10/2013 to 31/10/2013

Report consists of five basic paragraphs:

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First: Summary

Violations committed against media activists for this month distributed as follows:

1- Killed: 22 victims of media activists and journalists, Syrian regime killed 21 of them including 2 under torture, Islamic state of Iraq and Levant killed one.

2- Detention and Abduction: 6 media activist have been abducted this month: 2 of them were kidnapped by the Islamic state of Iraq and Levant and the other 4 by unidentified armed groups.

3- Injured: 7 media activists were injured while covering the fight in Dier ez-Zoor.

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Second: Introduction

The continuous violations committed against media freedom and the workers in this field and method caused fear and anxiety, especially with the increased quantity and quality of those crimes that lasted daily and instantaneously for long months with the intensification of the armed conflict between the two parties on the Syrian territories.

It seems that we are not saying any new fact or information if we point out to the Syrian government as being mainly responsible of the huge loss in souls and properties, as nothing is new when we mention the superiority of government forces against armed and extremist groups in the quantity and quality of targeting media activists with systematic and widespread killing, arbitrary arrests, and torture.  In what appeared to be a State policy since the beginning of the Syrian revolution and until this moment in gagged, block reports and picture, and pursuing journalist and media activists.

SNHR reaffirmed its condemnation of the continuous violations against media freedom  and convey the truth of any party and whatever type or size disparity.

As the network seeks actively from all parties, to respect media freedom and to ensure the safety of media activists, with accounting involved in violations against journalists and media activists.

SNHR also underlines the need to hard and fast move for civil society organizations and bodies to press on the Syrian Government and armed opposition, and deter them by appropriate means.

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Third: Major violation against media freedom committed by government forces in Syria during October 2013:

SNHR monitored during October 2013, raise of media activists’ victims number in Syria, where 21 media activists including 1 under the age of 18 were killed and 2 have been tortured to death, and at least 6 were injured.

The arrest context:

On the other hand government forces released the French writer journalist Jean-Pierre Duthion in Paris Match magazine  after detention lasted for 4 days,  as they issued a decis! ion to release the blogger Tal Almalohi, but it didn’t carried out until this moment.

1- The bloody events of this month started with the murder of media activist Odai Mohamad Bardan: a founder of Tafas city coordination of Daraa governorate, 1/10/2013.

2- Media activist Abdulnaser Alshanbour affected in his wounds after he was injured in Tafas of Daraa, 2/10/2013.

3-Media activist Siwar Marwan Alissa, cause of shelling his town Noaemah of Daraa , 4/10/2013

4-Media activist Mohammad Deiri, Media office manager of Furqan Brigade, during covering clashes in Mork of Hama , 6/10/2013.

5- Media activist Mohamad Sharifa, responsible and media office manager of Qabon free congregation, on shelling on Qabon , 6/10/2013.

6- Media activist Maher Hamzah, shelling during covering massacre in Hamoria of  Damascus countryside , 7/10/2013.

7-Media activist Ayham Aldimashqi, a member of Media office south Damascus during covering clashes in Saida Zainab of Damascus countryside , in 8/10/ 2013

8- Journalist Abdulhadi Katish , tortured to death in Air force intelligence branch of Aleppo , 8/10/2013.

9-Child Media activist Ahmad Saleh, killed during covering clashes in Abu Jirin of Aleppo countryside , 10/10/2013.

10-Media activist Osama Swidani, killed in a mine explosion between villages of Nawa and Jasim of Daraa , 12/10/2013.

11- Media activist Amine Kojo,  killed during covering clashes in Hfiria of Damascus countryside, in 13/10/2013.

12-Media activist Khair Abdulrahman Alkhair, killed during covering clashes in Rashidiah neighborhood of Dier ez-Zoor, 14/10/2013.

13- Media activist Moumen Dalati, shelling on Zabadani 14/10/2013.

14-Media activist Abu Abdulrahman, killed during covering clashes in Alaasali neighborhood of Damascus, 14/10/2013.

15- Media activist Abdullah Abu Mohamad , shelling on Moazameah of Damascus countryside , 15/10/2013.

16-Media activist Yousef Alsaer , killed during covering clashes in Sinaa neighborhood of Dier ez-Zoor, 15/10/2013.

17-Media activist Mohamad Khalaf Alazzo ” the small media activist”, killed during covering clashes in Sakhour neighborhood of Aleppo , 21/10/2013.

18- Media activist Abdullah Barghout, killed in shelling on Nabk of Damascus countryside , 26/10/2013.

19-Media activist Mohanad Obaid ” known as Mohamad Hababina”, after one day in his kidnapped, suspected to be killed by elements of the regime in Raqqa, 21/10/2013.

20- Media activist Hasan Othman, during covering clashes in Nubbal and Zahraa villages of   Aleppo, 28/10/2013.

21-  Media Activist Hasan Qasem, correspondent in Qalamon media centre, tortured to death in Harasta military branch after transferring him from Branch 148 of Damascus, 30/10/2013.

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SNHR also documented at least 7 injuries, in during covering clashes in Dier ez Zoor , and they are:

Media activist Abo Marouf  correspondents in Sham News Network in Hamidiah neighborhood 13/10/2013

Media activist Hamoud, known as freedom prisoner “a founder of Dier ez-Zoor rebel brigade, and member of Media office of Dier ez Zoor free radio station “, shelling on Takaya neighborhood, 14/10/2013.

Correspondent of Dier ez Zoor channel Nedal Alharbi in Sinaa neighborhood, 15/10/2013.

Media activist Issa Harb ,Almojahidne fi Sabil Allah brigade in Rasafa , 15/10/2013.

Media activist Rami Abdulaziz, Mouata brigade media activist, 15/10/2013

Media activist Ahmad Alhajr, Rashidiah neighborhood, 18/10/2013

Media activist Rabeaa Hmidi in military airport, 27/10/2013.

===================================

Fourth: Major violation against media freedom committed by armed opposition in Syria during October 2013:

It looks that the incidents during this month is the least bloody and violence when compared with the last few months, although dramatically violations committed by armed opposition against free practice of media work in Syria.

One media has been killed and six have been kidnapped.

1- Kill of Media activist Mohammad Saed Alkhatib,  correspondent of Al Arabiya channel , shot by masked gunmen, elements of Islamic state of Iraq and Levant are suspected of his kill, in Hritan of Aleppo countryside, 26/10/2013.

As kidnapped the following:

– Rami AlZarrouk, “media activist and responsible in Radio Ana’ by elements of  Islamic state of Iraq and Levant in Raqqa 1/10/2013, then they broke into Ana organization and confiscation of transmission devices and especial equipments of the office 15/10/2013.

– Photographer Ziad Homsi , by elements of  Islamic state of Iraq and Levant in the North of Syria, 12/10/2013.

– Russian Photographer Constantine Juravljev, by armed groups in Aleppo countryside , 12/10/2013.

– Media activist: Hazem Alhusain in Raqqa by masked armed groups 9/10/2013

– Mauritanian journalist Isaac Mokhtar “Sky News correspondent” and his colleague Lebanese correspondent  Samir Kassab by unknown armed groups, while covering the field events in Aleppo.

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Fifth: Attachments:

Pictures and videos of media activities that are mentioned in the report

A- Victims and wounded by Government’s forces :

activist Odai Mohamad Bardan

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBaDRyMW5IYXR1SXc/edit?usp=sharing

Abdulnaser Alshanbour

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBSDFEMmpJQkpncEU/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBaDVYOVJTRnVRN3c/edit?usp=sharing

Abdulnaser Alshanbour

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBYXRzLVVQWG9qSEU/edit?usp=sharing

Mohamad Sharifa

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBZGFiU0N2QldnWWc/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBQU82T0otWll2ak0/edit?usp=sharing

Maher Hamzah

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBbDh1S1dmLVBFOVU/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBMFFJY3ZQd0M5b2c/edit?usp=sharing

Abdulhadi Katish tortured to death

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBUzRUV2JGMGRHZ3M/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBUWZ3dUtXQzNfSVU/edit?usp=sharing

Child Ahmad Saleh

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBa1RFUExhNVh0cUU/edit?usp=sharing

: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBZHNiWTVoUFE0Uk0/edit?usp=sharing

Osama Swidani

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBN194VFY0SkRRd3M/edit?usp=drive_web

Amine Kojo

http://youtu.be/mPOBlXkG_OU

Moumen Dalati

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBOXhkOXlrNXBLLWs/edit?usp=sharing

Yousef Alsaer

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBakNPYW51cm5nTzQ/edit?usp=sharing

http://youtu.be/rAZ7gajrHds

http://youtu.be/r7lFqqJsTec

Abdullah Abu Mohamad

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBN1FJdUEwQmhkX3c/edit?usp=sharing

Mohamad Khalaf Alazzo

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B4PBLuuH0DW_SHZLXzBlYXFpM2c/edit?usp=sharing

Abdullah Barghout

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBSDM2S2FwUmtMVzg/edit?usp=sharing

Mohanad Obaid

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBTF9FNUJyNzM4alU/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBTVFKNnNnMDUybDA/edit?usp=sharing

Hasan Othman

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBOWJKcmJweVJidTg/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBRGh3Vm5feWtMc28/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBRGh3Vm5feWtMc28/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4PBLuuH0DW_RGhEa3JvTjlWX0k/edit?usp=sharing

Jean-Pierre Duthion

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBdUZ3aThwYWdpcnM/edit?usp=sharing

Blogger Tal Almalohi

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBd3lucDU1OGtsWEU/edit?usp=sharing

===========================================

 

Injuries

Media activist Abo Marouf

http://youtu.be/vNQxkhekv1g

Nedal Alharbi

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBd3I5djNVblV6TEU/edit?usp=sharing

===========================================

A- Victims and Kidnapped  by Armed groups :

Mohammad Saed Alkhatib

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBd2dQamV0THF6eVU/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBRjVZb0loVUVXcm8/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBazJUZXNCNnVJVVU/edit?usp=sharing

http://youtu.be/ot-q9WNHmFE

http://youtu.be/fJBw4Xrfc6k

http://youtu.be/Ujd4uWp9OGI

http://youtu.be/IxFl9MJRwXY

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Rami AlZarrouk

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBdGdqNDU4X0Z2OHM/edit?usp=sharing

Ziad Homsi

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBX1ZuU0FObTU5WFk/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBdXVXaVpCZUNUZms/edit?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBbGVNdmpKQWVEX00/edit?usp=sharing

Russian Photographer Constantine Juravljev

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBZjVNd2dDRm04WFU/edit?usp=sharing

Isaac Mokhtar

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBb1JvY1IzSGphTms/edit?usp=sharing

Samir Kassab

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBb1JvY1IzSGphTms/edit?usp=sharing

Hazem Alhusain

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBa1VNTXlaSHRTV2M/edit?usp=sharing

[scribd id=181157502 key=key-4y2minjp3u6gci37lqv mode=scroll]

[scribd id=181156832 key=key-25pozrdpq7cl2r957isq mode=scroll]

Documenting the shelling of Adnan Almalki school in Dier ez-Zoor

Date of incident: 20 October 2013

Prepared by SNHR

The methodology of this report is based on the investigations conducted by SNHR’s team in Dier ez-Zoor governorate, with a number of residents and activists.

It contains the testimonies of witnessing residents documented in the report, in addition to news and pictures from cooperative activists inside the city.

The incident’s details

On Sunday 20 October 2013, 9:30 am, Syrian government’s warplane, without any warning or real justification, shelled the Adnan Almalki school located in Alqusor neighborhood (under the control of government forces).  The school was shelled while students and teachers were inside.

Location map:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=35.341157,40.128635&num=1&t=h&z=17

Testimony of an eyewitness and survivor known as Abo Faisal:

You can communicate with the witness by Skype account:

Mgro7-mn

” The massacre took place on Sunday 20/10/2013, at 9:30 am ”

The students were in school when the MIG shelled the school during the official school hours, the regime forces know that the school is working officially, there are only students there and noarmed manifestations ”

Alqusor neighborhood under the control of the regime, and the teachers are taking their wages from Minister of education

The warplane strike that targeted  the school directly led to kill four students and a teacher, and injured dozens of students”

Syrian Network for Human Rights’ director Fadel Abdulghani said: ” Syrian government always claims that they are fighting Al-Qaeda, extremists, and terrorism, but does shelling schools, markets and hospitals is for the same reason??!, They are sending message that they will prevent all forms of stability and life in all provinces that rebelled against Al-Assad regime, should mention it is not the first time that government forces shell school and commit systematically crime against humanity in many Syrian governorates”

SNHR’s team could document the killing of at least 4 victims: three children with their female teacher, while activist said that there were other three children couldn’t be recognized, we also document almost 15 injuries most of them were children.”

Shell led to damage great parts of Adnan Almalki school, and some parts of the neighboring Zaki Alarsozi school”

=============================

Name of the massacre victims:

1- Child Ahmad Rafea Alsara, Alqusor – Dier ez-Zoor

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBZkY1bkxIN0J6YnM/edit?usp=sharing

2- Girl child Ayah Ghassan Alhawas, Alqusor – Dier ez-Zoor

3- Miss Manal Alhaiji, Alqusor – Dier ez-Zoor, teacher

1- Child Husam Ahmad Alrabie, Alqusor – Dier ez-Zoor

=============================

Proofs and attachments:

Video shows the smoke caused by shelling

http://youtu.be/nXLPXZW7tbE

Photo of injured girl:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BXsBk3fIcAAoehj.jpg:large

=====================================

Conclusions:

1. Syrian network for human rights emphasize that the shelling of the school was deliberately aimed at civilian targets, so the Shabieha and Government forces violated international human rights law that protects the right of life.  In addition, it was committed in a non-international armed conflict so it tantamount to war crimes and had all the elements.

2. SNHR considers the shelling of the school in Dier ez-Zoor accompanied by killing  a war crime.  This is not the first time, but it’s almost a daily event in all Syrian govern orates, so it follows a systematic and widespread methodology.

3-  Random attacks committed by the Syrian government are considered violations of customary IHL, because it shells populated areas, not specific military targets.

4- Those attacks, especially the shelling, caused losses in civilians lives, injury , or damaged civilian objects.  There are very strong indications to believe that damage was too excessive when compared with the expected  military benefit.

5.The size and repeated nature of the massacre, the level of excessive force used, in addition to the random nature of the shelling, and coordinating attacks cannot be but only supreme directives of a state policy.

 

============================

 

Recommendations:

 

Syrian Government

1-    Immediately stop all human rights’ violations.

2-    Respect international obligations of protection of civilians in times of war, and respect the rules of international humanitarian law and international human rights law

 

Human Rights Council:

1-    Demand the Security Council and the concerned international institutions to hold their responsibilities of what’s happening for the Syrian People of killing, rape, displacement, and arrest.

2-    Pressure the Syrian Government Troops to stop shelling and killing, and release all the kidnapped and arrested.

3-    Hold allies and supporters of the Syrian Government Troops: Russia, Iran, and China, morally and physically responsible for what’s happening to the Syrian people.

4-    Give this case serious attention and give it a high priority, and try to take care of victims’ families psychologically,  materially, and educationally.

 

==================================

 

Security Council :

1-    Decide to refer all the criminals and the involved to the ICC.

2-    Warn the Syrian Government Troops of the repercussions of using brutal methods on the stability of civil peace and coexistence between the people of the same society.

3-    Insert Syrian National Army, and Shabiha troops loyal to Syrian Government’s.

 

==================================

 

Arab League :

1-    Demand the Human Right’s Council and United Nations to give serious and right attention to stop the daily killing.

2-    Political and diplomatic pressure on the Syrian Government Troops ‘s main allies-Russia, Iran and China -to prevent them from continuously providing cover and international and political protection for all the crimes committed against the Syrian people and hold them morally and physically responsible for all the excess of the Syrian Government Troops.

3-    Serious attention of this case and give it a high priority, and try to take care of victim families psychologically, materially, and educationally.

 

===================================

 

 International Commission of Inquiry :

The International Commission of inquiry must stop describing the conflict in Syria as a conflict between two equal parties in crimes, power and centralized decision,  and give an accurate description of violations without alleviate for political purposes.

The committee must also increase its carders in Syria because of the magnitude of the daily crimes committed to enable requires wider and more comprehensive documentation.

Prepared by Syrian Network for Human Rights

The report presents aspects of the besiege imposed by government forces on the town of Moadamyeh since 18 November 2013.  It also details how government forces have displaced, starved, and shelled civilians.

The report is based on six testimonies from Moadamyeh residents including a doctor, an eyewitnesses who saw or heard the government forces arrest relatives and then execute them.

This report has been prepared by SNHR  team in the Damascus countryside and logistics team outside Syria in cooperation with the residents and local activists in Moadamyeh.

Moadamyeh is located west of Damascus city in East Ghouta, and is administratively affiliated with the Darya district of  Damascus countryside.  The current population is 12,000 people.

The town is bounded to the North by three regiments of the 4th Division and from the South-East of the Palestinian organization’s camp of the regime’s army, from West officers’ housing, Saraya Al-Sira’ brigades and Yusuf al-‘Azma barracks of regime’s forces, and East Mezzeh military airport.

Location map:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=33.461127,36.19222&num=1&t=h&z=15

The siege began on 18 November 2012, when Government forces surrounded the city on all sides with military checkpoints and military armored vehicles, and surrounded the entrance of the city and main roads with about 20 checkpoints of 4th Division and Air Force Intelligence, backed by tanks t-72 and t-82, and ZSU-23-4 “Shilka.”

Testimony of Mahmoud Abo Ali resident in Moadamyeh:

“The city is suffering from scarcity of all food materials, medical, drugs, and fuel, in addition to the heavy and daily shelling on the city, the regime also used chemical weapons, the people of this city have been exposed to different type of death, even starvation, recently 7 children died as a result of hunger, adding to cut off electricity, water and connections.”

You can communicate with the witness through his Skype account:

mrkazmoadamiaalsham

Testimony of Amir Almoadamani ,resident in Moadamyeh:

“Hospitals and Dispensaries are totally destroyed, almost 80% of schools and mosques are destroyed, and some razed to the ground, houses have not been spared of shelling, where 75% of the city has destroyed, hunger totally dominate the area, regime’s forces prevented the entry of food, medicines and fuel, tragedies in Moadamyeh greater than from being counted in numbers.”

You can communicate with the witness through his Skype account:

adsport19821

==================================

Many Governments, senior United Nations officials, and human rights groups including Syrian Network for Human Rights call on the Syrian Government to grant humanitarian access to Qusayer during fighting in May and June/2013.  But the Security Council did not issue a statement on the right of access until the end of fighting because of Russian obstructionism.

The Syrian Government has rejected international calls for the evacuation of civilians and has refused to grant access to independent observers who were able to facilitate evacuation operations.

On 2 June, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said that Syria will not grant the International Committee of the Red Cross access right of entrance until the end of hostilities.

The Syrian Government has blocked the entry of food, bread and flour, medicine, baby milk, and fuel, in a policy to starve the residents.  The so-called “people’s committees (militiamen)” prevent the entrance of United Nations assistance to the region, leading to the fully closure of markets.

Syrian Network for Human Rights’ director Fadel Abdulghani said: “Syrian regime carries out systematic starvation and impoverishment operations to push the residents to compare their conditions before they rise up against the Syrian regime and after, and which to return to their old conditions, where they used to eat and drink regardless tyranny, oppression, gagged, and humiliation of dignity, they do so in the areas that out of their control, as example price of bread bag is 20 Syrian Pound, while in Damascus countryside reach to 300 Syrian pound if any.”

SNHR documented the murder of 11 residents, including 10 children, who were deprived of food and medical supplies.  SNHR’s director said “They didn’t kill because of shelling or executions, but starved to death.”

The following link contain names, photos, and other victim’s details:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bu2UHeQ4xly4cBdVWaF3id8Z3eDJv5gy9aQ4K7nArNE/edit?usp=sharing

====================================

 

Testimony of Mr. Yasser who visited large number of families that left Moadamyeh told us:

” I visited large more than 8 families who could get out of Moadamyeh by the Red Crescent, and inquired about many things like military, service, medical , humanitarian, relief and even personal  subjects…

Dealing between people in Moadamyah is by barter, not sale and purchase, because there are no Currency in the city

There is no food in the city, people eat herbs, leaves of trees and plants

Of course people there are literally skeletons have souls, People dies cause of hunger, relief materials don’t reach the city because of the siege imposed by government forces.

There are no water, no electricity, no communications.

Most of the families lost many of their children.”

In addition to shutting off electricity, water, and connections in the city by Syrian Government, Government Forces also with its daily shelling use various types of weapons destroyed 60% of the residential buildings in full, shelling often targeted public facilities (hospitals, schools, mosques, and clinics).

In addition to shelling the city with chemical weapons on 21 August 2013.

Medical Situation:

All of the hospitals, dispensaries, and medical centers were shelled, and do not function anymore, except for two small medical centers with five doctors and 40 nurses, suffer from shortage in medical materials.  Because of this, some manufactured equipments meant to be used once, are used several times after sterilization, and this exacerbated  injured conditions, amputated infected parts, and stopped treating other wounded.

Testimony of Dr. Omar Alhakim, works in Moadamyeh medical centre:

“The city has been severely suppressed by the security forces and militiamen since the beginning of the peaceful protests, about 10 months after FSA fended off the regime’s forces repeated attempts to storm the town.  They imposed a severe siege, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated , where we suffer from running out the food supplies in the city; nothing lefts for the residents to eat only plants, the city is totally empty from food, there are approximately 12,000 civilians trapped since 10 months including 7 thousand children and women, Electricity cut off from 10 months, flour is missing from 7 months, dry bread missing from 5 months, and now all Foodstuffs run out.

In addition to losing the entire medical substances, treatment the injuries with primitive tools and materials intended for one use by using them for several times, Drugs are almost non-existent, and antibiotic medications are only given one pill to a patient in extreme necessity conditions, the city is now at the gates of a real humanitarian disaster ”

You can communicate with the witness through his Skype account:

mohanad198938

============================

Educational status:

In Moadamyah 22 schools are closed, 15 of them are totally destroyed from shelling by government forces, the rest are extensively damaged.  They are out of service and cannot function anymore.

Photo of school on 1/3/2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Drt3lncQFuE

11 mosques in the city, large parts of them destroyed from shelling.

Photo of Omari mosque on 14/8/2013:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9Bj18tlYYKBWXJGUWhaellRMzA/edit?usp=sharing

Initiative to bring out the civilians

On Saturday 16 October 2013, Red Cross members provided help to the residents to display from the city, Government forces warned the families that they should evacuate the city, because it was announced by the official media as military zone, during displacement and at the western entrance of the city, government forces targeted them by heavy artillery led to kill 1 victim and almost 20 injuries:

Victim: Ziad Shihabi, Moadamyah of Damascus countryside:

http://youtu.be/WZozYcncQIM

Testimony of  media activist Murad Alshami, who was present while trying to evacuate the civilians:

You can communicate with the witness by Skype account:

Morad.773

“The city of Moadamyah have been besieged since the beginning of Daria battle, because of the very important location of the city, as it is between Mezzah military airport and Sumarieah housing and Eastern neighborhood, officers’ housing, Saraya Al-Sira’ brigades and Yusuf al-‘Azma suburb, 4th Division and their housings and regiment 100.

Moadamyah is military zone, there is no entrance or exist way since the beginning of Daria battle.

That’s mean there is no military barrier for inspection or otherwise…. snipers at all entrance, transit from and to the city is forbidden … that’s mean its prison anyone try to get out  immediately sniped, and targeted by Shilka armored , heavy machine guns, thermal scope snipers, and Alwite People’s committee barriers.

From four months ago, we have identified more than 10 dates for getting out the civilians with United Nation Commission.

There were many connections with Red Cross, where they pledged to enter the aids, but they didn’t enter foods or unwind siege.

Red cross and ministry of national reconciliation intervened in one thing which is city evacuation

Nun Fadia Allaham entered the city and asked for guarantees, I was one of those who helped her and secured her, as she can take out whomever she wants, we told her to act as she wants.

First day 13/10/2013, about 1000 civilians came out, the next day almost 2000 civilians gathered , but only 500 of them could leave and they told the rest for tomorrow .

when the people gathered, Fadia and her friends arrived, she told us that she prepared buses for men to go out not just women, they told her continue with children and women temporarily

After a while, almost 10 minutes, shelling on Free Syrian Army barriers, which was almost 200 miters away from regime’s barriers ,was started, then shelling on civilians who were trapped in the middle, victims were from FSA then women and children.

Thousands of civilians were trapped in the city.”
Testimony of one of the displaced, where she was there during the shelling, and refused to disclose her identity

“First thing the agreement became between day and night, no one knew about it ..

who arrange the agreement is two persons of Moadamyah ( Samir and Ali Ghandour ), for sure they lived outside Moadamyah, but they found that this is the best solution, the mediation between the regime and Moadamyah’s residents were Red Cross and Nun Fadia Allaham.

Indeed the first three days, many civilians have been evacuated

good number of them

who get out alone survived, but those who rode regime’s buses , they prevent them to get out the places where they kept them until they have someone out of Moadamyah to sign guarantee for them, ( that’s mean if he/she has someone to ensure they will let him out, if not he/she will stay )

When people get out of Moadamyah, security forces checked the ID’s to see if they have their names or not, many detention cases took place.

Of course who get out not only from Moadamyah, also from Daria

next day almost 3000 civilians tried to go out, and gathered at buses point.

Then shelling from 4th division started on this area, they were in, which is near Asia factories at Jdidt Artouz side ( the west side of the city ) , particularly Arbaeen highway.

First, the regime shelled by one mortar, amost 50 meter far away from civilians.

Team of Red Cross and Nun withdrew directly.

after their withdrawal, artillery shelling on civilians started, many of them fell between victims and injuries

Free Syrian Army intervened, and tried to evacuate civilians, ambulance injuries, and take victims.

Clashes between FSA and regime’s forces that tried to take civilians as humans shields, the civilians already are humans shields in this area, because it is occupied by the regime…

Two of the government forces were dead, and five get injured

FSA eventually could move civilians of Daria and Moadamyah to inside of Moadamyah via fields

Fields area usually one of the most targeted areas, because usually FSA holed there.

That’s mean they back again to worse besiege, shelling was continuing in that moment very badly.

Who went out by his car alone, he could get his relatives, people who went with regime, they took them to a school in Qudsia suburb.”

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Evidences:

Video shows civilians, children and women, used as human shields in Moadamyah during their displacement:

http://youtu.be/YBDPt_ZGGTg

Video shows injuries from shelling civilians gathering’s point during their displacement with Red Cross:

http://youtu.be/Am6QoYOQsNM

http://youtu.be/DQK-yNCX-Qw

Video shows shelling on displacements gathering point:

http://youtu.be/vpFjjg7ti8c

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Government forces imposed a severe besiege on these villages, which makes it extremely difficult to provide medical and food supplies, and deprived hundreds of families who now must leave and move to safe areas.  This is a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law governing conflict in Syria, where they should allow the provision ofof food and medicine, and if there is a need to take the approval from the Syrian Government and also allow them to carry out inspections of those convoys, but it is illegal to prevent these convoys abusively as they are now, and are considered as a form of collective punishment of the civilians.  Here, the international community must intervene urgently to provide humanitarian relief in Moadamyah and save them from being starved to death.

Exert real pressure on the Syrian Government to give all medical and food aids and to allow civilians to leave.  They should pressure the Syrian Government to obey them and hand over its stock of chemical weapons under threat of force.