Washington
(AFP) - The United States said Tuesday it was "deeply concerned" about
the escalating Syrian and Russian attacks on the rebel-held enclave of
Eastern Ghouta, which have left more than 250 civilians dead in two
days.
State
Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert blamed the Assad regime's "siege
and starve tactics" for adding to the humanitarian disaster in the
Damascus district, and endorsed the United Nations' call for a monthlong
halt to violence.
"The
United States is deeply concerned by the escalating violence in the
Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta," Nauert told reporters. "The
escalation is exacerbating the already grave human suffering of nearly
400,000 people.
"The
cessation of violence must begin now, and those needing emergency
assistance should be allowed to evacuate immediately," she added.
Eastern
Ghouta is home to more than 400,000 people living under crippling
government siege, with little access to food or medical resources.
Syrian
and Russian air strikes slammed the area earlier, adding 100 civilian
deaths to the toll since Sunday and putting another hospital out of
service.
The
rebel-held district is nominally included in a "de-escalation" deal
meant to tamp down violence, but President Bashar al-Assad is apparently
preparing troops for an imminent ground assault to retake the area.
Source: Yahoo News
