Syrian Network for Human Rights: The Syrian Regime Uses Chemical Weapons again in Hama Governorate
On Saturday 1 October 2016 at approximately 19:30, a government forces helicopter dropped two barrel bombs loaded with cylinders containing a poison gas on the agricultural lands in northern Kafr Zita city in Hama governorate. What further verified the incident was the toll of injuries that mounted to 20 people who exhibited symptoms of suffocation and breathing difficulties.
SNHR contacted a number of residents, civil defense members, and local media activists who witnessed the incident and told the Network of the symptoms they saw on the injured such as sever coughing, breathing difficulties, burning eyes, and vomiting which was also confirmed by the pictures and videos we received and have a copies of in addition to pictures that show the remnants of the bombardment and the cylinders loaded with the gas which were found in the incident location.
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Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect: Syria: Five Years, Five Vetoes, 280,000 Dead

8 October 2016
Web Version

Syria: Five Years, Five Vetoes, 280,000 Dead

For the fifth time since the conflict began in 2011, a veto by Russia has blocked efforts to protect civilians in Syria. The decision by Russia to veto an attempt by the UN Security Council to reinstate the cessation of hostilities, establish a military no-fly zone over Aleppo, provide unhindered humanitarian access, and hold perpetrators of atrocities accountable, is a vote in favor of continued bloodshed.

Russia’s subsequent attempt to put forward a second resolution was unfortunate and unhelpful. Despite some positive aspects to the text, by excluding a military no-fly zone in Aleppo, the Russian draft resolution appeared to be more about saving face than a genuine effort to end the violence and advance the protection of civilians. For that reason, it was only supported by four members of the Security Council and was not adopted.

Throughout the course of Syria’s civil war, every major principle of international law has been violated with impunity. All parties to the conflict have conducted indiscriminate attacks on civilians, perpetrated sexual violence, deliberately blocked humanitarian aid, and used food as a weapon to starve besieged communities. However, the Syrian government has far greater military capacity to inflict suffering on civilians and bears a greater burden of responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity. For five years the Syrian government has systematically waged war against its own people, and has utterly failed to uphold its Responsibility to Protect.

With over 280,000 people already dead, today’s veto condemns countless more Syrians to unnecessary suffering.

The Syrian government and its allies, including Russia, continue to conduct airstrikes on civilian areas of Aleppo with barrel bombs, illegal cluster munitions, chemical weapons, and “bunker-buster” bombs. Since the collapse of the cessation of hostilities on 19 September and the subsequent announcement by the Syrian government of a renewed offensive on rebel-held east Aleppo, at least 376 people have been killed, including over 100 children, in a sustained attempt to obliterate East Aleppo from the skies. The use of indiscriminate weapons and the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity.

While the Syrian government is manifestly unwilling to uphold its Responsibility to Protect, the Security Council has also failed the Syrian people. Despite political divisions within the Council, the five permanent members have a special responsibility not to veto when civilians are threatened by mass atrocity crimes. Today’s votes clearly demonstrate the need for all Security Council members to adhere to the ACT Code of Conduct in mass atrocity situations, which has been signed by 112 states.

After five years and today’s votes, the Security Council has shown that it is unable to uphold its UN Charter mandate to maintain international peace and security with regard to Syria. Utilizing the “Uniting for Peace” mechanism, the UN General Assembly should now be allowed take up the issue. The long-suffering people of Syria cannot wait any longer for the Security Council to live up to its responsibilities.

Syria Deeply: Weekly Update: ISIS Steps Up Attacks As Ground Battle For Aleppo Rages

WEEKLY UPDATE
October 7, 2016
Dear Readers,Welcome to the weekly Syria Deeply newsletter. We’ve rounded up the most important stories and developments about Syria and the Syrians in order to bring you valuable news and analysis. But first here is a brief overview of what happened this week:Hundreds have been killed in increasing violence in Aleppo, prompting a United Nations warning that Syria’s largest city could be “totally destroyed” by the end of year. Elsewhere in the country, the so-called Islamic State stepped up its bombing campaign, hitting rebel, government and Kurdish areas.On Wednesday, the Syrian army said it would cut back attacks on the rebel-held eastern side of Aleppo for humanitarian reasons. But few believe the government will allow those living in rebel-held Aleppo to leave safely. U.N. envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura reportedly pledged to personally escort up to 1,000 rebel fighters out of Aleppo in an attempt to quell the devastating air attacks by Syrian and Russian forces.Airstrikes have decreased, but ground clashes between rebels and pro-government forces increased as the regime continued one of the biggest operations in Aleppo since 2013, according to the U.K.-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.The Syrian army’s announcement came just after Russia said it would send more warplanes to Syria, in addition to an S-300 air defense missile system Moscow had already sent to its naval base in the government-held province of Tartus.The United States has officially suspended talks with Russia on Syria. U.S. State Department spokesman John Kirby said Moscow had “failed to live up to its own commitments … and was also either unwilling or unable to ensure Syrian regime adherence to the arrangements to which Moscow agreed.”As much of the international community focused its attention on the battle for Aleppo, Islamic State carried out several bombings across Syria. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bomb that killed at least 21 people near the Syria-Turkey border Thursday. The attack targeted Syrian rebels supported by Turkey, many of them from the Failaq al-Sham group, near the Atmeh border crossing west of Aleppo.It came after an Islamic State suicide bomber killed at least 30 people at a Kurdish wedding in northeastern Syria. Earlier in the week, Islamic State carried out two suicide attacks on government buildings in the center of Hama, killing at least two people. This is the first time the group has claimed an attack inside the city.

Weekly Highlights:

Besieged in Eastern Aleppo but Happy to Be Here: Diary Entry

Wissam lives with his wife in rebel-held eastern Aleppo, which has been under government siege since July. Violence is escalating in his neighborhood, but the teacher and activist wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
A meal shared by Wissam Zarqa and his wife before the siege began in eastern Aleppo. Wissam Zarqa

Analysis: Why Assad’s Propaganda Is Not as Crazy as It Seems

The Syrian government’s recent tourism videos of beautiful scenery and nightlife may look ludicrous to Westerners who know the brutal truth about Aleppo – but the West is not the intended audience of this publicity blitz.
Syrian regime forces gather at the Kindi Hospital in Aleppo on October 2, 2016.
Rebels had held the Kindi hospital since 2013, and capturing it allows government forces to threaten the opposition-held Heluk and Haydariyeh neighborhoods. AFP/George Ourfalian

What Syrians Can Expect in a Post-War Landscape

The U.S. objective in Syria is a political solution to the conflict. But for this to be successful, it will have to account for the complex governance structures and dynamics already established across the country, write Daniel Serwer, Rose Youhana and Katherine Preston.
Syrian regime forces gather at the Kindi Hospital as smoke billows following aistrikes on Aleppo on October 2, 2016. AFP/George Ourfalian

Additional Reading:

Top image: Syrian civil defense volunteers, known as the White Helmets, search for victims amid the rubble of destroyed buildings following a government forces airstrike on the rebel-held neighborhood of Bustan al-Basha in Aleppo on October 4, 2016. AFP/Thaer Mohammed

Thousands Protest Anti-Abortion Law in Poland

By Sarah Lafen

Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, Europe

 

WARSAW, Poland — Approximately 24,000 Polish men and women gathered in Castle Square in Warsaw, Poland this past Monday to protest the proposed anti-abortion bill. The protest, which was called Black Monday, was not exclusive to the capital Warsaw.  90 other Polish cities saw protests as well, drawing approximately 160,000 protestors nationwide.  Other European cities which hosted protests included Berlin, Brussels, Dusseldorf, Belfast, London and Paris.

A woman in one of the demonstrations holds a sign protesting the bill which would enforce a total ban abortions (Photo Courtesy of The Huffington Post).
A woman in one of the demonstrations holds a sign protesting the bill which would enforce a total ban abortions (Photo Courtesy of The Huffington Post).

Some small shops closed in downtown Warsaw, with signs in their windows indicating their observance of the protest.  Other businesses which were usually staffed by women were staffed by men for the day.  Well-known actor and theater owner Michal Zebrowski sold tickets in his box office in Warsaw on the day of the strike in order to allow his female employee to take part in the protest.

Protestors waved black flags to draw international attention to the proposed ban.  They wore black clothing to represent their mourning for their reproductive rights and for the deaths they fear some women would face as a result of being denied the procedure.  Some who were inspired by a 1975 women’s strike in Iceland skipped school and work, and are refusing to do domestic household chores.

One of the protestors, Anna Pietruszka-Drozdz, explained that “Women don’t have abortions because they are promiscuous and it’s convenient. They do it because they need to, and it’s often the most traumatic decision ever.”  Another protestor, Agnieszka Krysztopolska, states that “… it’s not like I am some kind of hard-line feminist but I do not agree with somebody depriving me of the right to my own health or that of my children. I think this bill is just dangerous.”

The proposed bill poses a dilemma for the conservative Law and Justice (PiS) government in Poland.  Poland remains one of Europe’s most Catholic nations, and PiS came into power based on a promise to the Polish people to increase conservative values.  If PiS fails to back the proposed ban, the Catholic Church in Poland might react in the negative.  Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski dismissed the protesters, saying “Let them have their fun.”  Waszczykowski told a private radio station that “There is no such problem as a threat to women’s rights.  If someone thinks that there are no greater concerns in Poland at the moment, let them be.”

 

For more information, please see:

BBC — Black Monday: Polish Women Strike Against Abortion Ban — 3 October 2016

CNN — Women March Against Poland’s Proposed Abortion Ban — 3 October 2016

The Huffington Post — Women go on Strike in Poland to Protest Anti-Abortion Law — 3 October 2016

LA Times — ‘Black Monday’ in Poland: Women Strike Over Proposed Total Abortion Ban — 3 October 2016

NY Times — Protesters in Poland Rally Against Proposal for Total Abortion Ban — 3 October 2016

Hundreds Starve in War Torn Libya

By Samantha Netzband 

Impunity Watch, Africa Desk Reporter

TRIPOLI, Libya– Hundreds of civilians are nearing starvation in a neighborhood of Benghazi, Libya.  Civilians are trapped due to the military blockade on the city and the on going fighting in their neighborhood, Ganfouda.  Residents are lacking food, water, and electricity.

Refugee children

Libyan children. (Photo Courtesy of Mirror)

According to Amnesty International, civilians are mainly living on rotten food and dirty water.  These supplies along with supplies of expired medicine are running out making the situation for Ganfouda residents dire.

Entry roads to the neighborhood have been blocked by Libyan National Army forces, and as airstrikes move closer and closer many are unwilling to leave their homes.  The Libyan National Army forces have been fighting off Islamic militants and in the process both sides have allegedly violated international humanitarian law.

Because of the danger of the conflict, getting humanitarian aid to the families is growing more difficult.  Islamic militants have also threatened to kill anyone under 14 in the neighborhood, which has added to the atmosphere of fear.  There are many young children and babies in Ganfouda who do not have proper access to the nutrients they need to grow.  As many of the residents have been trapped for 2 years, one resident was forced to give birth to her daughter 10 months ago.  The baby has never had access to clean water.  Magdalena Mughrabi, deputy director of Amnesty Internationals’ Middle East and North Africa Program is right when she says “time is running out for civilians in Ganfouda, who are being left to die trapped by the fighting.”  Amnesty International is leading the push for residents of Ganfouda to get the humanitarian assistance they need.

For more information, please see: 

Amnesty International – Libya: Civilians trapped in Benghazi in desperate conditions as fighting encroaches – 29 September 2016

BBC Africa – Libya: More than 100 Families at Risk for Starvation in Benghazi – 30 September 2016

Daily Star – Hundreds trapped in Libya’s Benghazi amid fighting: Amnesty – 30 September 2016

Fox News – Amnesty: Hundreds Trapped in Libya’s Benghazi Among Fighting – 29 September 2016

Mirror – Starving Children are Surviving on ‘Rotten Food and Dirty Water’ in war torn Libya – 30 September 2016