Daraya: Local Council of Daraya City
Daily News Roundup: Field, Medical and Humanitarian Situation in Daraya, Damascus
15 April 2013
Today’s most significant event was a worldwide campaign to support the people of Daraya entitled ‘Daraya: a tale of resistance till victory’. A special ceremony held in Istanbul was televised on several TV channels. The event was a great success due to its high-calibre guests and the efficient organization. The ceremony started with a speech by a member in the Local Council from inside the besieged city. The member emphasized that Daraya shall remain as always steadfast in opposing oppression and tyranny. He also appealed to the opposition forces abroad to bury their differences for the sake of people inside Syria who have already suffered too much.
The president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, Mr Ahmad Muaz Al-Khatib, gave a speech which he started by talking about the people of Daraya and her open-minded and civilized youth. He talked about their early revolutionary movement back in 2003. He talked also about the heroism of Daraya’s fighters and the hundreds of martyrs who died in the city. Al-Khatib described Daraya as one of the cities that broke the regime’s arrogance both through peaceful and militarized means. Syrians will never forget Daraya’s revolutionaries and their sacrifices. ‘Daraya is one great symbol which stands in solidarity with other cities; her people also stand in solidarity with their Syrian brethren,’ Al-Khatib said. ‘We call upon all our Arab and Muslim brothers to support the Syrian people’. ‘I salute the steadfastness of our brothers in Daraya and throughout Syria. I am confident that this great march of ours will be a source of greater good. We shall all take part in building a bright future for our nation which would compensate the great suffering it has been through. We are one hand in working for the greater well,’ Al-Khatin concluded.
Sheikh Jamal Al-Sirawan gave a speech praising Daraya’s symbols like martyr Ghiath Matar.
After that there was a speech by Mr George Sabra, president of the Syrian National Council, who said:
“Daraya, allow me to pride myself with the names of your martyrs,
Daraya, you are an icon of resistance saved in our hearts,
Daraya, you are a promise that we shall keep,
Daraya, take all that we have but leave us your beautiful name and fragrant story.”
Sheikh Sariya Al-Rifai gave a speech in which he saluted the bravery of Daraya’s people. He expressed condolences to the people of Daraya for their loss saying that their loved ones are now residents in God’s paradise. He pledged to continue the struggle till victory asking God’s support for FSA fighters. Al-Rifai said that Daraya had been appealing to the world for the past 6 months of her siege. He also narrated the story of Abu Muslim Al-Khawlani, a scholar from Daraya, with the Omayyad caliph Muawiya. He reminded people that paying charity is a religious duty on all Syrians and Muslims. The whole world has let Syria down and has given nothing but hollow promises, the Sheikh said.
Dr. Ridwan Ziada took over after that and he spoke about the similarities between the two plighted cities and Daraya. He spoke about Daraya’s important role in repelling the Sixth Crusade and preventing it from reaching Damascus. He also analysed Daraya’s strategic location which meant that her liberation will be the end of the regime. In 2003, a number of Daraya’s youth started a peaceful movement for change but they were rewarded with imprisonment. During the current revolution, Daraya played a major role in organizing peaceful protests led by martyr Ghiath Matar and detained activist Yahya Alshurbaji who adopted the idea of presenting flowers to soldiers to make them understand that the people meant tno harm to them. He also talked about martyrs Muhammad Quraitem and Ahmad Shihada who were editors-in-chief of Daraya’s own revolutionary newspaper Inab Balady.
The ceremony was concluded by an address from inside the besieged city by Abu Nidal, an FSA commander who said that it was the regime who forced the change in Syria’s revolution from peaceful to military. The FSA are struggling to claim their rights and freedom and shall never allow any plots to divide Syria to pass. ‘We dream of a peaceful and healthy country, free from oppression, where our children can go to schools and live their life with dignity’, Abu Nidal said. ‘Daraya’s heroes are resolute in their opposition to oppression and oppressors,’ he concluded.
*** Recent developments on the ground***
The city has been subjected to incessant and fierce artillery and rocket shelling starting last night and until early morning. Shelling from the army locations around the city was concentrated on the western area and the alleged Sukaina Shrine, leaving a number of injuries and widespread destruction. Military air force carried out raids over the city while attempts to seize control of the city continued for a fifth month.
This morning, a military convoy headed towards the city. The convoy was made up of 10 tanks, 5 BMP vehicles, 2 armoured-vehicles, 11 DShK vehicles, as well as many ambulances and troop-caring vehicles. All reinforcement forces left the city by sunset and retreated to Al-Mazzeh Airport after being involved in clashes in most areas especially Sukaina Shrine.
*** Humanitarian situation***
More than 200,000 people have fled Daraya and they are living in horrible humanitarian conditions amid dire need for all the necessities of life especially food.
As for the defiant city of Daraya, the people are living in complete lack of electricity, water and food amid a strict siege blocking all entrance points to the city.
Arrest campaigns continue against the displaced people of Daraya in their places of residence and on all checkpoints in Damascus city and Damascus Countryside towns.
*** Medical Centre Report***
The medical team continues to provide all possible help to rescue and treat injured victims whether civilians or FSA fighters despite the extreme shortage in medical staff, equipment and material.
***A collection of HD videos covering the developments in Daraya, for media attention***
A regime stronghold being attacked by FSA fighters (HD)
https://youtu.be/zDJpleCFbVc
FSA fighters target an area frequently passed by regime fighters (HD)
https://youtu.be/AEzhqabJZ-g
Smoke billowing in the aftermath of incessant shelling (HD)
https://youtu.be/GFSupDz
Destruction in the vicinity of Consumers’ Complex (HD)
https://youtu.be/ab47jXH6XSM
Shelling against Sukaina Shrine area continues after the regime’s failure to seize control of it (HD)
https://youtu.be/5nra8ep5vIg
Smoke billowing after shelling (HD)
https://youtu.be/o5fT-AaNwK8
Destruction in the city after all this shelling (HD)
https://youtu.be/8-2quGkGW9k
Daily News Roundup: Field, Medical and Humanitarian Situation in Daraya, Damascus
15 April 2013
Today’s most significant event was a worldwide campaign to support the people of Daraya entitled ‘Daraya: a tale of resistance till victory’. A special ceremony held in Istanbul was televised on several TV channels. The event was a great success due to its high-calibre guests and the efficient organization. The ceremony started with a speech by a member in the Local Council from inside the besieged city. The member emphasized that Daraya shall remain as always steadfast in opposing oppression and tyranny. He also appealed to the opposition forces abroad to bury their differences for the sake of people inside Syria who have already suffered too much.
The president of the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, Mr Ahmad Muaz Al-Khatib, gave a speech which he started by talking about the people of Daraya and her open-minded and civilized youth. He talked about their early revolutionary movement back in 2003. He talked also about the heroism of Daraya’s fighters and the hundreds of martyrs who died in the city. Al-Khatib described Daraya as one of the cities that broke the regime’s arrogance both through peaceful and militarized means. Syrians will never forget Daraya’s revolutionaries and their sacrifices. ‘Daraya is one great symbol which stands in solidarity with other cities; her people also stand in solidarity with their Syrian brethren,’ Al-Khatib said. ‘We call upon all our Arab and Muslim brothers to support the Syrian people’. ‘I salute the steadfastness of our brothers in Daraya and throughout Syria. I am confident that this great march of ours will be a source of greater good. We shall all take part in building a bright future for our nation which would compensate the great suffering it has been through. We are one hand in working for the greater well,’ Al-Khatin concluded.
Sheikh Jamal Al-Sirawan gave a speech praising Daraya’s symbols like martyr Ghiath Matar.
After that there was a speech by Mr George Sabra, president of the Syrian National Council, who said:
“Daraya, allow me to pride myself with the names of your martyrs,
Daraya, you are an icon of resistance saved in our hearts,
Daraya, you are a promise that we shall keep,
Daraya, take all that we have but leave us your beautiful name and fragrant story.”
Sheikh Sariya Al-Rifai gave a speech in which he saluted the bravery of Daraya’s people. He expressed condolences to the people of Daraya for their loss saying that their loved ones are now residents in God’s paradise. He pledged to continue the struggle till victory asking God’s support for FSA fighters. Al-Rifai said that Daraya had been appealing to the world for the past 6 months of her siege. He also narrated the story of Abu Muslim Al-Khawlani, a scholar from Daraya, with the Omayyad caliph Muawiya. He reminded people that paying charity is a religious duty on all Syrians and Muslims. The whole world has let Syria down and has given nothing but hollow promises, the Sheikh said.
Dr. Ridwan Ziada took over after that and he spoke about the similarities between the two plighted cities and Daraya. He spoke about Daraya’s important role in repelling the Sixth Crusade and preventing it from reaching Damascus. He also analysed Daraya’s strategic location which meant that her liberation will be the end of the regime. In 2003, a number of Daraya’s youth started a peaceful movement for change but they were rewarded with imprisonment. During the current revolution, Daraya played a major role in organizing peaceful protests led by martyr Ghiath Matar and detained activist Yahya Alshurbaji who adopted the idea of presenting flowers to soldiers to make them understand that the people meant tno harm to them. He also talked about martyrs Muhammad Quraitem and Ahmad Shihada who were editors-in-chief of Daraya’s own revolutionary newspaper Inab Balady.
The ceremony was concluded by an address from inside the besieged city by Abu Nidal, an FSA commander who said that it was the regime who forced the change in Syria’s revolution from peaceful to military. The FSA are struggling to claim their rights and freedom and shall never allow any plots to divide Syria to pass. ‘We dream of a peaceful and healthy country, free from oppression, where our children can go to schools and live their life with dignity’, Abu Nidal said. ‘Daraya’s heroes are resolute in their opposition to oppression and oppressors,’ he concluded.
*** Recent developments on the ground***
The city has been subjected to incessant and fierce artillery and rocket shelling starting last night and until early morning. Shelling from the army locations around the city was concentrated on the western area and the alleged Sukaina Shrine, leaving a number of injuries and widespread destruction. Military air force carried out raids over the city while attempts to seize control of the city continued for a fifth month.
This morning, a military convoy headed towards the city. The convoy was made up of 10 tanks, 5 BMP vehicles, 2 armoured-vehicles, 11 DShK vehicles, as well as many ambulances and troop-caring vehicles. All reinforcement forces left the city by sunset and retreated to Al-Mazzeh Airport after being involved in clashes in most areas especially Sukaina Shrine.
*** Humanitarian situation***
More than 200,000 people have fled Daraya and they are living in horrible humanitarian conditions amid dire need for all the necessities of life especially food.
As for the defiant city of Daraya, the people are living in complete lack of electricity, water and food amid a strict siege blocking all entrance points to the city.
Arrest campaigns continue against the displaced people of Daraya in their places of residence and on all checkpoints in Damascus city and Damascus Countryside towns.
*** Medical Centre Report***
The medical team continues to provide all possible help to rescue and treat injured victims whether civilians or FSA fighters despite the extreme shortage in medical staff, equipment and material.
***A collection of HD videos covering the developments in Daraya, for media attention***
A regime stronghold being attacked by FSA fighters (HD)
https://youtu.be/zDJpleCFbVc
FSA fighters target an area frequently passed by regime fighters (HD)
https://youtu.be/AEzhqabJZ-g
Smoke billowing in the aftermath of incessant shelling (HD)
https://youtu.be/GFSupDz
Destruction in the vicinity of Consumers’ Complex (HD)
https://youtu.be/ab47jXH6XSM
Shelling against Sukaina Shrine area continues after the regime’s failure to seize control of it (HD)
https://youtu.be/5nra8ep5vIg
Smoke billowing after shelling (HD)
https://youtu.be/o5fT-AaNwK8
Destruction in the city after all this shelling (HD)
https://youtu.be/8-2quGkGW9k