23 February 2018•Update: 23 February 2018
By Merve Aydogan
ANKARA
The European Union on Friday called for an end to the "massacre" in Syria's Eastern Ghouta.
In a written statement, EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said: "The fighting must stop now -- the international community should unite to stop this human suffering."
Since Tuesday, regime forces have stepped up attacks on Eastern Ghouta using barrel bombs, artillery fire and other types of weapons, according to an Anadolu Agency correspondent based in the area.
Over a three-day period, the regime has reportedly carried out 260 separate attacks in Eastern Ghouta, killing more than 250 civilian residents of the district.
"The European Union is running out of words to describe the horror being experienced by the people of Eastern Ghouta. Hundreds of civilians, women, children are targeted deliberately and relentlessly. They are the real, innocent, victims of this war," Mogherini said.
The statement added: "Unhindered humanitarian access and the protection of civilians is a moral duty and a matter of urgency. It is in the responsibility of all to prevent further loss of lives, to stop the violence."
The EU urged all parties to the conflict, as well as the guarantors of the four deescalation areas, to take all necessary measures to ensure an immediate cease-fire and the protection of Syrian people.
"The Syrian regime must immediately stop targeting its own people and fulfill its primary responsibility to protect them. We, therefore, support the UN call for a 30-day humanitarian cease-fire and expect the international community to support it in New York," statement added.
The EU also reiterated the necessity of establishing a UN-led political process in war-torn Syria.
