SYRIA: Whole city besieged to "wipe out pockets of armed terrorists”

[22 February 2012] - Syrian security forces have been shelling the city of Homs for almost three weeks straight, saying it will wipe out “pockets of armed terrorists”, but indiscriminately attacking residential areas of the city. One local activist described the scene as  “a large-scale military assault on defenceless civilians." 

Food security is turning precarious, with parts of the city already said to be experiencing shortages of food and water. Humanitarian aid groups have urged both State and opposition forces to cease fire in order to safely deploy provisions.

Human rights defenders are also targets for security forces, with the offices of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) being raided by soldiers this week and 16 of its employees blindfolded and taken away. Their arrest came on the same day the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning the violent government crackdown on civilians. Around 7,000 people are thought to have died since the uprising began last March.

The only British newspaper journalist in Homs, Marie Colvin, was named today as one of two Western journalists killed in the city, when more than 10 rockets hit the building they were staying in. French photographer Remi Ochlik also died, along with several other people, according to local reports. The intensity of the shelling has triggered suspicions that the attack was deliberately targeted.  

Further Information:

• SYRIA: SRSG Coomaraswamy calls to immediately halt all violations against children (9 February 2012) 
• SYRIA: Children severely tortured in detention (3 February 2012) 
• SYRIA: Activists report 'terrifying massacre' in Syrian city of Homs, with dozens killed (27 January 2012) 
• SYRIA: Remembering child victims of military crackdown (17 January 2012)
• SYRIA: 6,200 killed, including 400 children (9 January 2012) 
• UN: Security Council urged to refer Syria to the ICC (13 December 2011) 
• SYRIA: Boy, 10, slain in home by sniper (12 December 2011) 
• SYRIA: Assad denies responsibility for the killing of thousands of anti-government protesters (7 December 2011)
• SYRIA: Human Rights Council adopts resolution and establishes mandate for Special Rapporteur (5 December 2011) 
• SYRIA: Children's rights violations feature in Special Session on Syria (2 December 2011) 
• UN: Report of the independent international commission of inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic (November 2011) 
• SYRIA: UN rights panel voices alarm at reported torture of children (25 November 2011)
• SYRIA: Wave of violence targets children (23 November 2011) 
• SYRIA: Death toll surpasses 3,500 (9 November 2011)
• SYRIA: Three children among latest killed (28 October 2011) 
• SYRIA: NGOs appeal to UN General Assembly to condemn violence (24 October 2011) 
• SYRIA: Concerns over “rampant torture” (7 October 2011)
• SYRIA: New report indicates over 5,000 deaths since March, including 148 children (Avvaz, 22 September 2011)
• SYRIA: Death toll tops 2,700, including 100 children (20 September 2011) 
• SYRIA: Boy, 12, shot dead during funeral procession (13 September 2011) 
• SYRIA: President of HRC appoints investigative commission to probe human rights violations (12 September 2011) 
• SYRIA: Teen killed as protesters call for international protection (9 September 2011) 
• SYRIA: Amnesty report shows 88 civilians killed in detention, including 10 children (31 August 2011) 
• SYRIA: A child's killing freeze-frames tragedy (17 August 2011) 
• SYRIA: Over 70 children killed since March (5 August 2011)
• SYRIA: Defectors describe orders to shoot unarmed protesters (18 July 2011) 
• SYRIA: Second teenager tortured to death (16 June 2011) 
• SYRIA: Soldier 'ordered to fire' on peaceful protesters (10 June 2011)
• More on children's rights in Syria