Daraya: Local Council of Daraya City
Media Centre – Daily Report
Jan 8, 2013
Headlines: Rocket and artillery shelling intensifies; Assad’s forces continue their attempt to storm Daraya and the FSA destroys a BMP vehicle; 2 martyrs and 11 injured; medical and humanitarian situation truly horrible especially with the bitterly cold weather and lack of heating fuel due to the siege
*** Recent developments
For the 52nd day in a row, Assad’s forces continued their failed attempts to storm the city of Daraya.
Reinforcements made up from tanks, armoured vehicles, and troop carriers headed towards Daraya from the Southern Circle Road and Almaamil Road.
Battles concentrated along the Old Corniche and near Alibaa Alarabi Private School. Intermittent clashes also broke out on the south-eastern and the western fronts.
The FSA damaged a BMP vehicle near the fire brigade as the vehicle was trying to advance towards the city. FSA fighters also stopped a group of the regime’s infantry as they were attempting to sneak into the city via the nearby Al-Mazzeh Airport Barricade.
The FSA are continuing their combing operations to clear some buildings from Assad fighters.
The systematic shelling of the city continued non-stop for the 58th day in a row implementing all types of artillery, rocket launchers and tanks located outside the city. The shelling resulted in the death of one person and dozens of injuries and caused massive destruction to civilian homes and residential neighbourhoods.
*** Medical Situation
2 martyrs, 11 injured victims and 5 surgical operations.
The field hospital received today many victims injured by the incessant shelling by warplanes and artillery, most of whom were in critical conditions. A number of surgical operations were performed including one amputation and bone fixation, one abdominal surgery and splenectomy, and another operation for bone fixation for a shelling victim. Several children were treated for asthmatic bronchospasms caused by smoke from explosions. Other children were treated for cold-related diseases caused by the current wave of cold weather. Within the available resources, the victims were rescued and given the necessary treatment and medication.
***Today’s martyrs
Two people were killed today, one of whom was killed by the incessant shelling while the other was shot by one of the snipers surrounding the city.
1. Ali Orabi, shot by a sniper
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=194642203993625
2. Abu Ahmad Alhalabi, killed by shelling
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=194577450666767
*** Humanitarian situation
The humanitarian situation is increasingly getting worse for the people of Daraya, whether they are still inside or displaced outside the city, especially in the current freezing conditions.
Around 10,000 people have been under siege inside the city for 60 days in complete power cut and total blocking of medical, fuel and food supplies. The current terrible weather conditions make the suffering of the people even worse.
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 withdraw under the hits of the FSA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2N5pTpom2g
Video taken from Damascus, Rocket launcher in Al-Mazzeh Military Airport firing rockets towards Daraya and Almuaddamiya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ggsSbOYbqM
The tragic situation in the Field hospital as a complicated surgical procedure including amputation is carried out under makeshift battery lights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZq-Kiw5hs0
Field hospital, a patient after an arm and leg amputation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FBtgHQVyP0
Photo Album, part of the destruction caused by shelling in the Municipality Street and its vicinity
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.194638663993979.15740.178176988973480