Death Toll Exceeds 530 With Over 130 Killed In Eastern Ghouta; United Nations Approves Resolution Calling For 30-Day Cease-Fire

The week has been quite difficult for the Syrians more specifically for the eastern Ghouta citizens. Nearly 550 people including over 130 children have been killed in nearly a week in one of the most horrific attacks of Syria's civil war. The UN Security Council has approved the resolution which calls for a 30-day cease-fire in Syria. The council has aimed to get humanitarian aid to Ghouta as well as other affected areas. The resolution was delayed on Friday as the sponsors to get approval from Russia. NPR previously reported almost all of the members of the Security Council wanted the cease-fire to go into effect within 72 hours, but Russia had pushed it for a looser timeline.

Death Toll Crosses 530 Mark With Over 130 Children Killed In Eastern Ghouta In Just A Week Into The Most Fierce Assaults Of Syria's Civil War

• Over 500 killed across Syria as the bombing in eastern Ghouta continues; over 130 of the victims are children.
• United Nations have reached an agreement deal on a 30-day ceasefire while France and Germany have called Russia to put pressure on the Syrian government to honor the truce.
• Most of the recent bombing raids have targeted medical buildings.
• The White Helmets reported people who escaped death or injury were hiding in underground bunkers with low food supplies and little and no electricity.

The week has been quite difficult for the Syrians more specifically for the eastern Ghouta citizens. Nearly 550 people including over 130 children have been killed in nearly a week in one of the most horrific attacks of Syria's civil war.

Much of the bombing raids have targeted the medical building in eastern Ghouta whereas doctors in the remaining facilities have been struggling to keep up with thousands of injured patients.

The continuous attacks from barrel bombs and missiles have made it difficult for the authorities to count the casualties. Siraj Mahmoud, a spokesperson for the group of Reuters, told,

We weren't able to count the martyrs because the warplanes are touring the skies.

He continued,

But if we have to go out running on our legs and dig with our hands to rescue the people, we will still be there.

Many people who survived the heinous attack were hiding in underground bunkers with little or no electricity and low supply of food. One human rights activists said,

The situation is disastrous, kids didn't eat for two days in a row. Local councils cannot even provide meals fro children. The adults might be able to endure b

ut the kids can't

 He continued,

We have large numbers of babies under the age of six months lacking formula, whose mothers [don't have milk] to breastfeed them. Generally, we have large numbers of kids aged between six months and five years with nothing to eat.

 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the end of the hostilities in the region so the wounded can be evacuated. He said

I am deeply saddened by the terrible suffering of the civilian population in Eastern Ghouta — 400,000 people that live in hell on earth. I don't think we can let things go on happening in this horrendous way.

The UN Security Council has approved the resolution which calls for a 30-day cease-fire in Syria. The council has aimed to get humanitarian aid to Ghouta as well as other affected areas.

The resolution was delayed on Friday as the sponsors to get approval from Russia. NPR previously reported almost all of the members of the Security Council wanted the cease-fire to go into effect within 72 hours, but Russia had pushed it for a looser timeline.

Meanwhile, the truce doesn't apply to military operations against the terrorist groups like al-Qaida, ISIS among others.