Syria: dozens of cases of suffocation in the Ghouta orientale

AFP

Thursday, march 8, 2018 05:01

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Thursday, march 8, 2018 05:01

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Dozens of cases of suffocation have been reported following the air raids of the syrian regime and its ally russia on the stronghold of a rebel in the Ghouta orientale, announced on Thursday that an NGO, the medical personnel referring to a possible chemical attack.

Late in the night of Wednesday, at least 60 people have suffered breathing difficulties in the towns of Saqba and Hammouriyé, after the air strikes, said the syrian Observatory Human rights (OSDH).

According to the NGO, the raids have been carried out by the aviation of the plan and Russia, loyal ally of Damascus, which has denied in the past to conduct air strikes in the Ghouta orientale.

Doctors in one medical institution of the rebel enclave have assured that their side have treated at least 29 patients, who had symptoms of exposure to the gas of chlorine, according to the medical Society of the syro-american (SAMS), an NGO that supports medical centers in Syria.

“Due to an attack with chlorine gas in the Ghouta orientale, the patients suffer from severe breathlessness,” said SAMS late Wednesday on the social networks.

The plan leads in the Ghouta orientale, the gates of Damascus, an attack of unprecedented intensity against the rebel enclave, and the bombing raids have killed more than 860 civilian since 18 February.

In the locality of Hammouriyé, a correspondent of the AFP was able to see dozens of people, women and children, to leave the basement where they are holed up to escape the air raids, and install it on a roof in the hope of being able to breathe better.

The parents undressed the children, who were coughing incessantly and wash with plenty of water, and attempt to eliminate a possible presence of the toxic gas on their body.

Cases of suffocation similar has already been reported twice in recent days in the rebel enclave, according to the OSDH.

The syrian regime, which has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons, has been criticized in recent weeks for attacks alleged gas chlorine.

These accusations, “unrealistic”, according to the syrian president Bashar al-Assad, have caused uproar on the international stage, Washington and Paris brandishing the threat of strikes in Syria.