UN: Speakers call for end to Syria deadly barrel bombs

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Residents walk amidst rubble at a site hit by what activists said was a barrel bomb dropped by forces of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, in the old city of Aleppo May 26, 2015. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail
Residents walk amidst rubble at a site hit by what activists said was a barrel bomb dropped by forces of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad, in the old city of Aleppo May 26, 2015. REUTERS/Abdalrhman Ismail

Deadly barrel bombs dropped by Syrian army helicopters on opposition-held neighborhoods of Syria are the main driver behind the refugee crisis that has overwhelmed neighboring countries and now Europe, speakers at a panel held at the United Nations said Monday.

Kenneth Roth, the executive director of Human Rights Watch, urged the international community to put an end to President Bashar Assad’s indiscriminate use of the bombs, saying the tactic also undermines the war against the Islamic State group.

“It is a recruitment bonanza for ISIS because the group can claim to be standing up to these atrocities,” he said, using an acronym for the group. He said the explosives are being used for the sole purpose of terrorizing the population and have played a major role in fueling one the largest exodus of people since World War II.

Barrel bombs are makeshift shrapnel-packed explosive devices that Syrian forces continue to dump on rebel-held neighborhoods from helicopters, killing thousands of civilians over the past four years.

“We are tired of collecting limbs,” said Raed Saleh, head of the Syrian Civil Defense. “We ask ourselves as we dig out people from the rubble, whether we are next.”

They were speaking at the U.N. Monday as part of a special event on President Bashar Assad’s use of the bombs.

A Syrian army barrel bomb.  Over 600 such bombs were droped over the town of Zabadani  since Hezbollah and the Syrian army launched the attack against the rebels
A Syrian army barrel bomb. Over 600 such bombs were droped over the town of Zabadani since Hezbollah and the Syrian army launched the attack against the rebels

Enforcing a no-fly zone that would neutralize Assad’s warplanes and helicopters would save 200 lives a week, said Khaled Khoja, leader of the main Western-backed Syrian National Coalition, an opposition group. He is in New York trying to convince world leaders of the urgent need for safe zones and a no-fly area in Syria, something the United States has so far resisted.

“The principal driver of the two biggest challenges that the international community faces — the refugee crisis and the threat of extremism — is the indiscriminate killing of civilians, mainly through air attack,” Khoja said.

“It does not need to be this way. There is still time to avoid another Rwanda.”

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4 responses to “UN: Speakers call for end to Syria deadly barrel bombs”

  1. 5thDrawer Avatar

    Besides, the world is running out of nails and bolts … although, there’s still LOTS of nuts to stuff in a barrel.

    1. man-o-war Avatar

      It’s interesting what people and the world like to focus on. Why isn’t it an issue that thousands of civilians have been killed in Yemen?

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar

        Only 5000 … not matching ASSad’s or ISIS record mid-monthly totals, even yet.

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