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May 6, 2015

Amnesty: Syrian Regime Committing "Crime Against Humanity" in Barrel Bombing of Aleppo 
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Amnesty International is accusing the Syrian regime of "crimes against
humanity" in its barrel bomb attacks on the city of Aleppo. A new report
says barrel bombs killed some 3,000 civilians last year and more than
11,000 since 2012. Amnesty's Philip Luther unveiled the findings.

Philip Luther: "Barrel bombs are essentially oil drums with TNT and
shrapnel inside. And when civilians hear the hissing sound so
characteristic of barrel bomb attacks, they essentially know they've got
two minutes, two minutes in which they can try and seek refuge. Between
January 2014 and March 2015, they've recorded 3,000 civilian deaths,
while recording at the same time only the deaths of 35 fighters. That's
a 99 percent civilian casualty rate."

The report comes as relentless government attacks have forced one of
Aleppo's main hospitals to shut down. The group Doctors Without Borders
says it's unclear if the al-Sakhour hospital will be able to reopen due
to heavy damage.

 

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