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Death toll rises to 43 after barrel bombs are dropped on a displaced persons camp in Idlib

October 29, 2014 at 5:42 pm

The death toll after a Syrian army helicopter dropped barrel bombs on a displaced persons camp in the northern province of Idlib has reached 43 while dozens of others have been wounded, according to the Syrian opposition coalition.

In a statement issued by the Syrian Revolution General Commission, one of the most prominent media coalitions in Syria, it stated that over 43 civilians were killed while dozens were wounded as a result of the Syrian army helicopter dropping four explosive barrels on the Abdeen village camp for displaced persons in the southern countryside of Idlib. A copy of this statement was obtained by an Anadolu news agency journalist.

The Commission explained that the number of victims is likely to increase due to high critically wounded casualty figures.

It also pointed out that the Abdeen camp, which was targeted by the attack, included displaced people from rural villages near the northern province of Hama and Idlib who have fled their homes following clashes between the regime and opposition forces over the past few weeks.

The information provided by the commission has not yet been confirmed by an independent source or the Syrian regime which imposes restrictions on dealing with the media.

The “explosive barrels” are an old Soviet weapon consisting of metal barrels filled with highly explosive materials as well as iron filings and small metal shrapnel. The Syrian regime has adopted their use by dropping them from their air in order to bomb residential areas controlled by opposition forces.