Daraya: Local Council of Daraya City
Media Centre – Daily Report
Jan 9, 2013
Headlines: Battles intensify as Assad’s brigades attempt to storm the city from new fronts; The FSA repels the attacks and causes great casualties in Assad’s forces. Heavy rocket and artillery shelling; 2 martyrs and 25 injured; medical and humanitarian situation truly horrible especially with the snowing weather and lack of heating fuel due to the siege
*** Recent developments
For the 54th 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 via the nearby Al-Mazzeh Airport Barricade as well as from the Southern Circle Road and Almaamil Road.
For the first time, battles concentrated on Al-Muaddamiya checkpoint.
Several Zil trucks, loaded with troops and backed up with several tanks and armoured vehicles as well as rocket shelling, attempted to advance towards the city.
FSA fighters stopped the attackers and forced them to retreat after inflicting heavy casualties on them despite the great difference in power.
Other battles broke out along the Main Road and near the Police Station in which the regime’s forces suffered great losses in troops and equipment. Intermittent clashes also broke out along the eastern and western fronts.
The FSA were able to damage one BMP vehicle near Almaamil Road as it was approaching the city.
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 60th day in a row implementing all types of artillery, rocket launchers and tanks located outside the city. The shelling resulted in dozens of injuries and caused massive destruction to civilian homes and residential neighbourhoods.
*** Medical Situation
2 martyrs, 25 injured victims and 7 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 hand amputation, another for bone fixation in the leg, one abdominal surgery, and another operation for bone fixation in the arm. Several 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. Both were shot by Assad’s forces surrounding the city.
1. Abdu Abu Muhammad
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=194904953967350
2. Yaseen Abu Omar
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=194903230634189
*** 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
Leaked video showing Assad’s gangs executing an elderly man in Daraya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDA2vaDgeP8
Smoke bellowing from the city after violent shelling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrcxTZgwkAs
Assad’s forces firing flares in the city sky
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Beas04oKsjM
Intense shelling and plenty of smoke as the snow falls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tUE_uxUSe4
Video taken from Damascus, incessant and violent shelling of Daraya
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfzxjlW205A
Field Hospital, amputation of a victim’s hand after he was injured by the shelling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeTQ3TQMeNU
Field Hospital, abdominal surgery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NmZqI-BCXg
Photo Album, part of the destruction in civilian homes caused by Assad’s assault on Daraya
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.194900197301159.15756.178176988973480
Photo, ‘this is Daraya’. Smoke bellowing from burning homes hit by bombing
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=194937810630731
Photo, damage caused by fire to civilian homes caused by bombing
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=194965463961299
Photo, massive destruction caused by shelling in the Shariya Secondary school Street
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=194961327295046
Photo from the field hospital, a surgical operation to a shelling victim
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=