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'Hell on earth': Eastern Ghouta the latest flashpoint in Syria's civil war

A boy being treated following a suspected gas attack on al-Shifunieh village. More than 18 people were affected and one child was killed. Nine-year-old Hala is among the civilians caught in the crossfire after a Syrian government air strike on the to
Residents fleeing a Syrian government bombardment in the rebel-held town of Hamouria in eastern Ghouta. World leaders have expressed outrage at the plight of civilians in eastern Ghouta – which UN chief Antonio Guterres called “hell on earth” – but Moscow and Damascus say they target only militants.PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A boy being treated following a suspected gas attack on al-Shifunieh village. More than 18 people were affected and one child was killed. Nine-year-old Hala is among the civilians caught in the crossfire after a Syrian government air strike on the to
Suffer the little children: Omar, 10, was injured in an air strike on his home in the village of Otaybah. Several members of his family were killed. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
A boy being treated following a suspected gas attack on al-Shifunieh village. More than 18 people were affected and one child was killed. Nine-year-old Hala is among the civilians caught in the crossfire after a Syrian government air strike on the to
Suffer the little children: Nine-year-old Hala is among the civilians caught in the crossfire after a Syrian government air strike on the town of Saqba.PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Eastern Ghouta is the latest flashpoint in Syria's civil war which enters its eighth year next month. Despite a UN ceasefire vote that was passed last Saturday, the human toll continues to climb.

Published: 
Feb 27, 2018, 5:00 am SGT

DOUMA (Syria) • There is nowhere to hide, say residents of a besieged enclave of satellite towns and farms just outside Damascus.

"Every day goes like this: Bombings, then I clean the house from the effect of the nearby shelling, then we hide in one room, attempting to survive or die together," said former teacher Nisma al-Hatri.

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Untangling the mess
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 27, 2018, with the headline ''Hell on earth''. Print Edition | Subscribe
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