SYRIA: A rebel-controlled area of the Syria city of Aleppo run short of medical supplies as government forces press home their assault

Record ID: 281194

  • Title: SYRIA: A rebel-controlled area of the Syria city of Aleppo run short of medical supplies as government forces press home their assault
  • Date: 29th July 2012
  • Summary: AL-SUKKARI, ALEPPO, SYRIA (JULY 29, 2012) (AMATEUR VIDEO OBTAINED BY REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SKYLINE OF AL-SUKKARI NEIGHBOURHOOD IN ALEPPO DRIVING SHOT OF AL-SUKKARI NEIGHBOURHOOD SHOWING CLOSED SHOPS GARBAGE ON ROAD SIDE HELICOPTER FLYING OVERHEAD IN ALEPPO EXPLOSIONS AND SOUND OF GUNSHOTS AS SMOKE RISES FROM RESIDENTIAL AREA VARIOUS OF REBELS MANNING CHECKPOINT TWO REBELS S
  • Embargoed: 13th August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVACCGVECZ22KBJOHSMZUC7NPCEI
  • Story Text: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces pounded rebel held parts of the country's largest city Aleppo on Sunday (July 29), as the government declared victory in a hard-fought battle for the capital, Damascus.
    Assad's forces have struggled as never before to maintain their grip on the country over the past two weeks after a major rebel advance into the two largest cities and an explosion that killed four top security officials.
    Government forces have succeeded in reimposing their grip on the capital after a punishing battle, but rebels are still in control of sections of Aleppo, clashing with reinforced army troops for several days.
    Amateur video obtained by Reuters shows the rebel-held neighbourhood of al-Sukkari under shellfire.
    An increasing number of casualties and risky access to hospitals and public health centres has left a shortage of medical supplies in al-Sukkari, residents and rebels said.

    "The guys, thankfully, bandaged my wound. As you can see, I want to re-dress the wound, but I cannot, because there are no medical supplies. Thankfully the guys helped me. God is great; there is no God but Allah," said one resident, who appeared to have undergone first aid on a leg injury.
    One ambulance driver, with opposition sympathies, said an extensive range of weaponry was being used by government forces.

    "The city of Aleppo is being randomly shelled with all types of weapons including aircraft, automatic machineguns and shells. God give us vengeance on this regime and rid us of them. We have shortages of medical staff, shortages of medicine and shortages of nurses. We have wounded people, dead. God give us vengeance on this tyrant and help us to get rid of him," he said.
    Rebel fighters, patrolling opposition districts in flat-bed trucks flying green-white-and-black "independence" flags, said they were holding off Assad's forces in the south-western Aleppo district of Salaheddine, where clashes have gone on for days.
    Opposition activists also reported fighting in other rebel-held districts of Aleppo, in what could herald the start of a decisive phase in the battle for Syria's commercial hub, after the army sent tank columns and troop reinforcements last week.
    Arab League head Nabil Elaraby said the battle in Aleppo amounted to "war crimes", and perpetrators would eventually be punished, Egypt's MENA state news agency reported.
    The Arab League has suspended Syria and lined up with the West and Turkey against Assad. Assad's government blames Arab states, especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar, for the revolt.
    The British-based Observatory said 26 people were killed in Aleppo on Saturday and 190 across Syria. It reported fighting in Deraa, Homs and Hama. There was no way to verify its figures.
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