Sunday, August 26, 2012

They are killing children in the street as they queue to buy bread.

Dear Larry,
As you read this, intense fighting in Syria is turning streets into battlefields. Atrocities by government forces and militias are becoming ever more widespread – as our crisis researcher Donatella Rovera witnessed in Aleppo this month. Read about our latest mission to Syria
They are killing children in the street as they queue to buy bread.
On 10 August, an artillery shell landed outside a bakery in Tariq al-bab, where crowds were queuing for bread - which is in short supply in Aleppo. At least 14 people were killed, and 24 injured. The next night, more civilians were killed and injured when an air strike shelled a queue at a bakery in Sheikh Sa’id.

"The children were waiting to buy bread… My boy was struck in the head and died immediately…. We have no [Free Syrian Army] here, no fighting. Why such attacks which kill innocent people?" Father of Kifa’ Samra, 13 and Sakarya Samra, 11 - killed in Aleppo on 11 August  Help end the killing of civilians in Syria – donate now
They are wiping out whole families.
Unguided bombs designed for the battlefield are being used in cities, with complete disregard for the laws of war – and civilian life. Ten members of Mohammed ‘Abdellatif Kayali's family, seven of them children, died on 6 August when their houses were bombed to dust. He told us:

"When I went to work, I never thought that it was the last time I would see my family. I lost all that was dearest to me, my children, my wife, my brother, my cousins, everybody." Support our work to end the killing in Syria
They are firing missiles at schools and hospitals.
Following an attack on a hospital, we found remnants of a Russian-made S5 rocket. These rockets can be targeted, so why were they used to attack a hospital twice in the space of three days?

Dalia Hamdun, 16, and her 17 year old brother were killed as they sheltered in a school, having fled their homes because of fighting. A witness told us: "The aircraft swooped low and fired several rockets. Two, possibly three, hit the school." Help us uncover more evidence of atrocities - donate today
But you can help to stop it.
These stories are hard to bear, and it’s only human to despair and to want to turn away. But telling the world what is happening is how we can and will end the systematic slaughter of civilians in Syria.

As we have done ever since the bloodshed began, we continue to gather evidence and use it to influence those that can make a positive difference for ordinary people in Syria. And when this horror is over we'll use this evidence to help ensure the perpetrators are held to account.
However, like everything we do here at Amnesty, we can only do it with your support. Donate now to support our work to end the killing in Syria
Thank you,
Kristyan Benedict
Kristyan Benedict
Crisis Response Campaign Manager

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