UN official describes Syrian city as ‘capital of barrel bombs’

The UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator described the city of Darayya as “Syria’s capital of barrel bombs” in a briefing to the UN Security Council on Thursday about the situation in the war-torn country. Stephen O’Brien criticised the Security Council members for their silence over the Syrian crisis.

“There is something fundamentally wrong in a world where attacks on hospitals and schools, on mosques and public markets, on ethnic, religious and confessional groups, have become so commonplace that they cease to incite any reaction,” he told them. “Civilian neighbourhoods are pummelled. Medical and other healthcare facilities are destroyed. Education is disrupted and livelihoods are devastated.”

The senior UN official saved his main criticism for the heavy use of barrel bombs in Darayya by the Syrian regime, calling them “indiscriminate attacks” aiming to “terrorise and punish civilians.” Dozens of barrel bombs have reportedly been dropped during the past few weeks alone, he said. “Much has been said about the use of these weapons, but let me repeat: their use in this manner constitutes indiscriminate attacks. Their sole purpose is to terrorise and punish the civilian population… They must end now.”

Lest the Security Council accuse him of exaggerating, O’Brien continued: “Mr President, before anyone tries to suggest that this is not the truth, these barrel bombs are documented facts, indisputable facts, for which, however long it takes, the decision-makers and perpetrators will be held to account one day.”

A day after food aid was delivered to Darayya for the first time since 2012, he explained that “dozens” of barrel bombs were dropped on the city. “This shows that the situation for people in besieged and hard-to-reach areas will not be solved by humanitarian aid delivery alone.”

O’Brien suggested that the real measure of success will be when the sieges end: “When these medieval sieges are no more, when boys don’t risk sniper fire when bringing medicine to their mothers, when doctors can administer lifesaving treatments without the fear of imminent attacks…”