Red Cross Urges Government and Rebels in Syria to Agree to Cease Fires to Deliver Aid
According to activists in Syria, more than sixty people were killed in violence in the country. The city of Homs was heavily bombed by artillery rounds on Tuesday, especially in the city of Baba Amro. Thirty people died in that bombardment and at least two of the dead were children.
There were 33 people killed in the province of Idlib when President Assad’s security forces attacked villages in the region. In Damascus, there were four people wounded by government security forces. The troops fired on protestors and it shows that the violence is continuing to move into the capital city. President Assad has tried to tell the world that the uprising – which has lasted 11 months now – is only in the far reaches of the country and it carried out by armed terrorist gangs.
The accounts of the violence today cannot be directly confirmed. President Assad has banned foreign journalists and other media personnel from the country. However, there are some reports that the military is building up its resources in and around Homs, including tanks and other fire power. According to one activist named Omar, who was cited by BBC News, President Assad’s security forces and military troops are waging a full scale military assault against the people of Homs.
The Red Cross’s International Committee has asked both the Syrian government and the rebels to agree to a cease fire each day in order to allow aid to reach the inner most areas of Homs. This includes medical care food, and other necessities. Many people in Homs report that food has become very scarce in the city and many families are trying to flee the city.
The United Nations was estimating the number of people killed in Syria since the uprising started; however, last month they quit counting at 5,400. There have been hundreds killed since then. Sanctions against the country are taking a toll and the United Nations Security Council is trying to get a resolution passed that calls for Assad to step down.
