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UN condemns Syria market attack as witnesses tell of 'corpses everywhere' UN condemns Syria market attack as witnesses tell of 'corpses everywhere'
(34 minutes later)
The United Nations has condemned an attack by Syrian jets on a Damascus suburb on Sunday that killed more than 100 people, many of them civilians, in one of the deadliest raids of the four-year civil war.The United Nations has condemned an attack by Syrian jets on a Damascus suburb on Sunday that killed more than 100 people, many of them civilians, in one of the deadliest raids of the four-year civil war.
Stephen O’Brien, the UN’s most senior humanitarian official, said he was horrified by the total disrespect for civilian life in the conflict, which has killed at least 250,000 people and maimed up to four times that number. Speaking briefly in Damascus at the end of a three-day visit, O’Brien reiterated that “attacks on civilians are unlawful, unacceptable and must stop”.Stephen O’Brien, the UN’s most senior humanitarian official, said he was horrified by the total disrespect for civilian life in the conflict, which has killed at least 250,000 people and maimed up to four times that number. Speaking briefly in Damascus at the end of a three-day visit, O’Brien reiterated that “attacks on civilians are unlawful, unacceptable and must stop”.
Related: Syrian government air strikes on market kill at least 82 peopleRelated: Syrian government air strikes on market kill at least 82 people
He had been in the Syrian capital to negotiate better access to food and medicine in regime and opposition parts of the country, which has been decimated by the unrelenting war. He had been in the Syrian capital to negotiate better access to food and medicine in regime and opposition parts of the country, which have been decimated by the unrelenting war.
O’Brien said: “I am particularly appalled by reports of air strikes causing scores of civilian deaths and hundreds injured.”O’Brien said: “I am particularly appalled by reports of air strikes causing scores of civilian deaths and hundreds injured.”
There was no immediate reaction from other aid agencies, or the international community, which has increasingly focused its energies elsewhere in the conflict, particularly on the atrocities committed by Islamic State.There was no immediate reaction from other aid agencies, or the international community, which has increasingly focused its energies elsewhere in the conflict, particularly on the atrocities committed by Islamic State.
At least two bombs struck a marketplace in the opposition-held enclave of Douma on Sunday, the first day of the working week. The second hit as rescuers arrived to deal with the casualties. Officials in Douma said 112 victims had been prepared for burial. The raids continued on Monday morning, with activists reporting three new air strikes.At least two bombs struck a marketplace in the opposition-held enclave of Douma on Sunday, the first day of the working week. The second hit as rescuers arrived to deal with the casualties. Officials in Douma said 112 victims had been prepared for burial. The raids continued on Monday morning, with activists reporting three new air strikes.
Hassan Taqulden, an activist based in the suburb, which is about 10km northeast of the centre of Damascus, said there were so many dead, locals were unable to conduct funeral prayers for many of them, a sacred rite in Islam. Hassan Taqulden, an activist based in the suburb, which is about 10km north-east of the centre of Damascus, said there were so many dead, locals were unable to conduct funeral prayers for many of them, a sacred rite in Islam.
He told the Guardian: “You couldn’t have a single tomb for every martyr. I saw so many mothers weeping for their children.”He told the Guardian: “You couldn’t have a single tomb for every martyr. I saw so many mothers weeping for their children.”
Taqulden said the public market was obliterated. Civilians and children who gathered there afterwards tried to scrounge any vegetables that were left on the ground in order to feed themselves. Many people are going hungry as a result of the continuing siege of the area.Taqulden said the public market was obliterated. Civilians and children who gathered there afterwards tried to scrounge any vegetables that were left on the ground in order to feed themselves. Many people are going hungry as a result of the continuing siege of the area.
He said: “We are living a real tragedy. The bombing has become daily, almost normalised, a word I fear to use. At 9am the planes come, and I no longer have an alarm on my phone, I wake up with the air strike, or a mortar shell, or the death of a family member or a friend.”He said: “We are living a real tragedy. The bombing has become daily, almost normalised, a word I fear to use. At 9am the planes come, and I no longer have an alarm on my phone, I wake up with the air strike, or a mortar shell, or the death of a family member or a friend.”
A second witness, the Douma-based photographer Bassam al-Hakeem, said: “I entered the market and the corpses were scattered everywhere, human remains thrown on the produce and vegetables, and under every box of tomatoes was a corpse or part of a corpse.”A second witness, the Douma-based photographer Bassam al-Hakeem, said: “I entered the market and the corpses were scattered everywhere, human remains thrown on the produce and vegetables, and under every box of tomatoes was a corpse or part of a corpse.”
Locals believe the air strikes were in retaliation for an attack by the Jeish al-Islam rebel group on a nearby regime army base on Saturday. The opposition militants enjoy strong support in Douma, which has been one of the main opposition strongholds near Damascus over the past three years.Locals believe the air strikes were in retaliation for an attack by the Jeish al-Islam rebel group on a nearby regime army base on Saturday. The opposition militants enjoy strong support in Douma, which has been one of the main opposition strongholds near Damascus over the past three years.
Related: If Barack Obama ever had a strategy for Syria, it’s been turned on its head | Natalie NougayrèdeRelated: If Barack Obama ever had a strategy for Syria, it’s been turned on its head | Natalie Nougayrède
Fighting across the capital has ebbed and flowed throughout this year, but intensified lately, as it has elsewhere in rebel-held parts of the country. Syria’s military has regularly been accused of targeting civilian sites, such as bread queues and hospitals.Fighting across the capital has ebbed and flowed throughout this year, but intensified lately, as it has elsewhere in rebel-held parts of the country. Syria’s military has regularly been accused of targeting civilian sites, such as bread queues and hospitals.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said air strikes landed on or near nine hospitals in Idlib province between 7 and 10 August, killing 31 people, including hospital staff and patients.Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said air strikes landed on or near nine hospitals in Idlib province between 7 and 10 August, killing 31 people, including hospital staff and patients.
Sylvain Groulx, MSF’s head of mission for Syria, said: “These recent attacks are a clear violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits military attacks on hospitals. Air strikes are capable of targeting specific buildings and these hospitals are known locations. They must be respected as neutral spaces where civilians can safely access their right to healthcare services.”Sylvain Groulx, MSF’s head of mission for Syria, said: “These recent attacks are a clear violation of international humanitarian law, which prohibits military attacks on hospitals. Air strikes are capable of targeting specific buildings and these hospitals are known locations. They must be respected as neutral spaces where civilians can safely access their right to healthcare services.”