Homs is 'devastated', says UN aid chief after visit to rebel district
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The UN humanitarian chief Baroness Amos described parts of Homs as “completely devastated” after being allowed to enter the battered Syrian city yesterday.
The visit by Labour life peer Valerie Amos, the Under-Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs, was the first by an independent outside observer since the Syrian military began its month-long assault of the rebellious neighbourhood of Baba Amr.
A spokeswoman for Baroness Amos's office said yesterday that the rights chief had described the district as devastated by the recent shelling and almost devoid of people.
A key stronghold of the uprising to oust authoritarian President Bashar Assad, it was wrested from rebel control on March 1.
The visit came as activists accused regime forces of trying to cover up evidence of execution-style killings and reprisal attacks following a bloody military siege on the district of Baba Amr.
The Syrian regime has kept the neighbourhood sealed off over the past six days, saying it was too dangerous for humanitarian workers to enter. But activists accused the government of engaging in a "mopping-up" operation to hide their atrocities.
"They haven't let anyone in for a week, and now they are going to let them in?" Homs activists Tarek Badrakhan told The Associated Press. "Today it's simple: They finished their crimes and hid all the proof. Now they think they can show that everything is normal."
After seizing Baba Amr from the rebels, regime forces appeared to be turning their attention to other rebel-held areas, including the northern province of Idlib near Turkey.
The shift suggested that the Syrian military is unable to launch large operations simultaneously. Witnesses said Syrian troops continued shelling northern villages in Idlib yesterday.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments