Syrian army action in ‘Eastern Ghouta’, a crime against humanity, criticizes United Nations

Geneva/ Washington: The attacks on the Syrian people in the ‘Eastern Ghouta’ region of Syria amount to crimes against humanity. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that the Syrian government will have to face consequences for these crimes. The Syrian government has criticised the warning issued by the United Nations.

More than 650 people have lost their lives in the conflict in ‘Eastern Ghouta’ near the Syrian capital of Damascus since 18th of February. According to the information received, more than 103 people have been killed in ‘Eastern Ghouta’ even after the Russian imposition of ceasefire, four days ago, following the UN instructions. The local organisations allege that this loss of lives is due to the action by the Syrian army during the ceasefire.

The International Human Rights organisations are criticising that the ceasefire in Syria has failed. Photographs have been published showing the vehicles carrying aid to ‘Eastern Ghouta’ being stopped by the Russian and the Syrian army at the city borders. Human Rights Organisation in Britain has criticised that because of this, thousands of injured civilians are deprived of their daily essentials and medical aid.

Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights citing these examples, accused the Syrian army of criminal actions. ‘We have taken note of the crimes and the evidence and we will be preparing a dossier about this to be presented in front of the UN,’ clarified Al Hussein at a meeting in Geneva.

Syrian envoy to the UN in Geneva, Hussam Aala has criticised the warnings by the Human Rights High Commissioner, Al Hussein. The Syrian envoy denounced the allegations made by Al Hussein as partisan and politically motivated.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has bombarded Syria with criticism. The White House has warned that the atrocities on the Syrian people by the Assad Regime will not be tolerated by the United States and that Russia will be held responsible for the activities of the Russian and Syrian armies in ‘Eastern Ghouta’.

The Syrian conflict over the past seven years has taken about 500,000 lives and have displaced 800,000. More than 5.1 million people have migrated from Syria due to the conflict and they are living in impoverished conditions in the neighbouring countries.