Daraya: Local Council of Daraya City
Media Centre – Daily Report
December 22, 2012
Headlines: Assad’s forces attempt to advance on Daraya; FSA destroys one tank and one BMP vehicle; intensive shelling using rocket launchers and heavy artillery causes massive; 4 martyrs and an increasing number of injuries; medical and humanitarian situation really tragic.
Assad’s forces deployed new reinforcements in yet another attempt to storm the city of Daraya for the 36th day in a row. Reinforcements included tanks, reinforcements vehicles, DShK machinegun vehicles, and many troop carrying trucks. The new forces moved from Al-Mazzeh military airport towards Daraya.
Fierce battles broke out between the FSA and regime forces along many fronts including the eastern, southern and western fronts.
The most atrocious battles were fought along the eastern front starting from Abu Salah Square up to Old Corniche and the surrounding areas.
Daraya Martyrs Battalion were able to repel the attacks showing great valour. A number of Assad’s forces were able to sneak into buildings around the Old Corniche under intense and artillery and rocket bombardment.
As the battles raged, one BMP was destroyed by the FSA and the Assad gangs suffered heavy losses.
Other battles broke out along the southern front. The heroes of the FSA forced the Assad gangs to retreat. The FSA is still working on liberating the buildings which Assad’s troops occupied along the Old Corniche. They surrounded one building and assumed control over it after killing the intruders and taking their munitions.
FSA seized the estate of Dureid Alassad (Bashar’s cousin).
Alongside the battles, artillery, tanks and land-to-land rocket launchers continued to shell the city’s neighbourhoods for a 40th consecutive day. The shelling is part of Assad’s policy to destroy the revolting cities.
Bloodshed continues unabated in the city as a result of continuing barbaric bombing of the city. Thus, the total number of martyrs since the beginning of the campaign on 8/11/2012 has become 301.
*** Today’s martyrs
1. Nour Alhaw (Abu Hussein)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=190181917772987&set=a.178694942255018.13781.178176988973480&type=1&relevant_count=1
2. Muhammad Talal (Abu Sarah)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=190167844441061&set=a.178694942255018.13781.178176988973480&type=1&relevant_count=1
3. Zuheir Othman (Abu Sarah)
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=190180417773137&set=a.178694942255018.13781.178176988973480&type=1&relevant_count=1
4. Abdullah Alimam
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=190183341106178&set=a.178694942255018.13781.178176988973480&type=1&relevant_count=1
*** Medical Situation
The medical situation is extremely tragic after more than 40 days of siege, shelling and destruction, and after the burning down of government and private hospital, and the targeting of field hospitals. There is great difficulty in transporting injured and wounded people due to continuing bombardment. There is also great risk in moving them out of the city for fear of arrest and killing. However, the limited medical staff were able, amid scarce medical supplies, to provide medical treatment to over 720 injured people. Injuries varied between serious and medium.
Surgical procedures were performed on 113 patients including 54 general surgeries, 52 orthopaedic surgeries including 5 amputations of limbs as well as sinew connections and extractions of foreign bodies, 6 vascular surgeries and 1 thoracic surgery. All medical cases have been fully followed up and given necessary medicines.
*** Humanitarian situation
The humanitarian situation is increasingly getting worse for the people of Daraya, whether they are still inside or displaced outside the city.
The city is still isolated from the outside world due to power and communication cuts which have lasted for 44 days.
The need for heating fuel (a.k.a Mazot) has become all the more desperate with the advance of winter and falling temperatures.
Food and medical supplies are also in acute shortage amid shameful silence by human rights and relief organizations.

Assad gangs are located in these areas
• A number of soldiers including a sniper hiding inside homes around Alnakkashat area
• A number of soldiers including a sniper hiding inside homes near the Police Station
• A number of soldiers including a sniper hiding inside homes near the Graveyard square
• Along Sahnaya –Jedaideh Road which runs alongside Daraya
• Aldahadeel Road between Hammam Alqishani and Alsalam Mosque
• Around Alothman Mosque
• Around Wahab Mosque
• Snipers spread in the vicinity the above areas targeting any moving body.

Links to videos and photos that document part of the situation in Daraya today
- Important for media, Assad’s tanks continue shelling the city in an attempt to advance onto the city
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYiRY9O4lRQ
- Important, for media Assad’s tanks withdraw under FSA attacks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saSHg3FXS-I
- Land-to-land missiles being launched from Al-Mazzeh Military Airport
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92Ed80vpah4
- Doctor at the field hospital describes the dire medical situation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRagQz2CsgE
- One house burning and massive destruction caused by shelling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXcBUXc8iS4
- Photo Album, destruction in the historic Omar bin Alkhattab street
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190101481114364.15300.178176988973480&type=1
- Photo Album, destruction in the vicinity of the commercial bakery
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190150357776143.15310.178176988973480&type=1
- Photo Album, destruction in Alwahda Street
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190152674442578.15311.178176988973480&type=1
- Documenting the names of martyrs since the start of the campaign
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AlmqlD7fOhe-dEx0bW9Ud3ZNRE9DTlNGWjEzenRjOVE#gid=0