Daraya: Local Council of Daraya City
Media Centre – Daily Report
Jan 2, 2013
Headlines: battles continue for a 47th day; 3 air raids; siege and destruction continue for the 51st day; 3 martyrs and a number of injuries; medical and humanitarian situation in continuous deterioration.
*** Recent developments
The city of Daraya was awakened by the noise of Assad’s warplanes bombing the city. During the air raid by Sukhoi fighters, cluster bombs and missiles were dropped on residential neighbourhoods in the city centre.
Alongside the raids, and for the 47th day in a row, battles continued between the FSA and Assad forces who were planning to storm Daraya and wreak havoc in the city.
3 military convoys made up from tanks, armoured vehicles, and troop carriers headed towards Daraya. One convoy came from Al-Mazzeh military airport via Daraya Arch Road. Another convoy came from the airport barricade towards Al-Shayah road, while the third convoy came from Daraa highway and moved towards Almaamil Road. The convoys were preceded by intense shelling using tanks and artillery and were covered by air force raids.
Among the battles that broke along all fronts, the most atrocious were the battles along the eastern front starting from Abu Salah Square up to Old Corniche and the surrounding areas.
Daraya Martyrs Battalion was able to repel the attacks showing great valour. Despite the great difference in power, the FSA targeted a convoy of tanks in front of the Religious School and inflicted great losses on the Assad gangs. A number of ambulances were seen leaving Daraya towards Damascus in a frantic rush.
Other battles were fought intermittently along the southern front. The FSA forced the Assad gangs to retreat after suffering great losses and they advanced into new positions.
Alongside the battles, artillery, tanks and surface-to-surface rocket launchers continued to shell the city’s neighbourhoods for a 51st consecutive day with different levels of force. The shelling is part of Assad’s policy to destroy the revolting cities. The western, northern and southern areas were targeted today with rocket launchers. Alfaris Mosque also suffered partial destruction after being targeted by rocket launchers.
*** Medical Situation
3 people were killed today and 10 civilians were injured by the aerial and missile shelling, including 3 in a critical situation and 3 in need of surgical operations.
Both the medical team and the patients are suffering due to lack of a secure location in which they can be safe from indiscriminate shelling. The situation is made worse by the increasing number of casualties, many of whom are received in different critical situations requiring surgery. After government hospitals were closed and private hospitals were bombed by Assad’s gangs, the city lacks a properly equipped medical theatre where treatment can be carried out. As a result, the injured are currently being operated upon using primitive equipment.
***Today’s martyrs
1. Obada Yahya, by shelling
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=192866284171217
2. Husam Algharbi, extrajudicial field execution
3. Mazhar Latifa, by sniper shot
*** Humanitarian situation
The humanitarian situation is increasingly getting worse for the people of Daraya, whether they are still inside or displaced outside the city.
Around 10,000 people have been under siege inside the city for 55 days in a complete power cut and total blocking of medical and food supplies.
More than 200,000 displaced people are still suffering the hard living conditions associated with displacement in several areas in Damascus and Damascus Countryside. Most of them suffer under the cold weather, lack of food, blankets and the basic necessities of life. Many of them live in uninhabitable places. The cold weather and lack of medical supplies causes the spread of winter diseases especially among children.
Assad gangs are located in these areas
• A number of soldiers including a sniper hiding inside Alibaa Alarabi School
• 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
- Assad’s tanks wreaking havoc in the neighbourhoods they are withdrawing from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6JoBDtSqqE
- Warplanes attacking the city
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BImzRBCjlRY
- A cloud of black smoke caused by aerial attacks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8qz5a4N-Pc
- Video taken from Damascus, rocket launcher in Al-Mazzeh airport firing towards Daraya and Al-Muaddamiya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c2JdF kCV4A
- Photo Album, Destruction caused by shelling
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192948880829624.15588.178176988973480
- Photo Album, Sukaina Shrine targeted by shelling
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.192926634165182.15582.17817698897348