A child standing amid debris on a street in Aleppo. (file) Photo: OCHA/Romenzi
A vague evacuation deal was reached Tuesday as killing of women and children led to international outcry and condemnations of the Bashar al Assad regime, which, now claims to have taken control of Aleppo.
The development came as Russia claimed that the Syrian regime was now in control of eastern Aleppo, which was previously held by rebels fighting Damascus.
Around six years of fighting has killed around half a million citizens, destroyed Syrian cities, given birth to ISIS, allowed foreign powers to play proxies and created one of the biggest humanitarian disasters in the form of refugees. Middle Eastern watchers say the UN inability to enforce peace, international apathy, and major power failures are largely to blame for letting the conflict linger on.
As heart-rending reports of revenge attacks perpetrated by Iranian-backed Iraq militias against hiding civilians including children and women came, the United Nations Security Counci became the place for diplomatic accusations and counter-accusations.
US Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power challenged Syria, Iran and Russia directly.
“The regime of Bashar Al-Assad, Russia, Iran, and their affiliated militia are the ones responsible for what the UN called “a complete meltdown of humanity.” And they are showing no mercy. No mercy despite their territorial conquests – even now, no mercy. In the last 24 hours alone, pro-Assad forces reportedly killed at least 82 civilians, including 11 women and 13 children.”
She sketched out scenes of militas entering homes and butchering families.
“To the Assad regime, Russia, and Iran – three Member States behind the conquest of and carnage in Aleppo – you bear responsibility for these atrocities. By rejecting UN-ICRC evacuation efforts, you are signaling to those militia who are massacring innocents to keep doing what they are doing. Denying or obfuscating the facts – as you will do today – saying up is down, black is white, will not absolve you. When one day there is a full accounting of the horrors committed in this assault of Aleppo – and that day will come, sooner or later – you will not be able to say you did not know what was happening. You will not be able to say you were not involved. We all know what is happening. And we all know you are involved.”
Aleppo, she lamented, will join the ranks of those events in world history that define modern evil, that stain our conscience decades later. Halabja, Rwanda, Srebrenica, and, now, Aleppo.
“To the Assad regime, Russia, and Iran, your forces and proxies are carrying out these crimes. Your barrel bombs and mortars and airstrikes have allowed the militia in Aleppo to encircle tens of thousands of civilians in your ever-tightening noose. It is your noose.
“Three Member States of the UN contributing to a noose around civilians. It should shame you. Instead, by all appearances, it is emboldening you. You are plotting your next assault. Are you truly incapable of shame? Is there literally nothing that can shame you?”
Top UN officials, while expressing alarm over reports of atrocities against a large number of civilians underlined the obligation of all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and to abide by international humanitarian and human rights law.“
“This is particularly the responsibility of the Syrian Government and its allies,” a statement issued by the office of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein “pleaded” with the international community “to heed the cries” of the women, men and children being terrorized and slaughtered in Aleppo and to take urgent steps to ensure that the tens of thousands of people who have fled, surrendered or been captured are treated in line with international law.
“The crushing of Aleppo, the immeasurably terrifying toll on its people, the bloodshed, the wanton slaughter of men, women and children, the destruction – and we are nowhere near the end of this cruel conflict,” High Commissioner Zeid said in a news release issued the UN human rights arm (OHCHR).
“What can happen next, if the international community continues to collectively wring its hands, can be much more dangerous,” he warned.
According to the statement, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) has received credible reports of scores of civilians being killed – either by intense bombardment or summary execution by pro-Government forces.
“Dozens of bodies reportedly litter the streets of a number of east Aleppo neighborhoods, with residents unable to retrieve them due to the intense bombardment and fear of being shot,” the release said, adding: “Government forces and their allies are also reportedly entering civilian homes and killing people.”
