Saudi calls on Assad regime to end attacks on E. Ghouta

By Ahmed al-Masri

DOHA, Qatar

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday reiterated demands on the Syrian regime to halt its attacks on the besieged Eastern Ghouta district, voicing concern over a recent escalation of violence.

The appeal was issued at a Tuesday meeting of the Saudi Council of Ministers, which was chaired by King Salman bin Abdul Aziz at Riyadh’s Al-Yamamah Palace.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, Culture Minister Awwad Saleh al-Awwad said cabinet members had expressed their “deep concern” over the Syrian regime’s recent escalations in Eastern Ghouta “and the resultant impact on the district’s civilian residents”.

According to al-Awwad, cabinet members had also called on the Syrian regime to allow the delivery of badly-needed humanitarian aid into the region.

On Tuesday, at least five civilians in Eastern Ghouta were killed when regime forces shelled the district, despite a recent UN Security Council resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire.

One day earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu vowed to implement a “daily humanitarian pause” -- effective immediately -- to allow humanitarian aid into the besieged district.

Home to some 400,000 civilians, Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, has groaned under a crippling regime siege for the last five years, which has severely impeded humanitarian access to the area.

Within the last eight months, regime forces have stepped up their siege, making the delivery of food and medicine almost impossible.

Since Feb. 19 alone, escalating attacks in Eastern Ghouta have led to the death of some 500 people and the injury of about 1,500 others, according to UN officials.

Syria has been locked in a devastating conflict since early 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected ferocity.

According to UN figures, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict to date.