Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia – 2018/02/22

“We have become numb to death and destruction. News reports of deaths in the hundreds no longer evoke the reactions they once did. The massacres in Eastern Ghouta in the past week are at both shocking and shockingly ignored.” Columnist Taha Meli Arvas

This is the stark reality of what is currently emanating out of the Eastern Syrian enclave of Ghouta.

Have we become ‘desensitized’ to the atrocities in Syria?

Radio Islam spoke to Syrian War Journalist Rami Jarrah, who says since the war broke out in 2012, Ghouta has been under siege.

“It wasn’t a total siege that whole time, there were tunnels people could get food in, get resources in, even if we going to speak militarily, those that were fighting in the area were able to get ammunition, so there were those lines, what we know now is that there are no lines whatsoever.”

A fathers last goodbye to his slain son #SaveGhouta pic.twitter.com/sjB3w3FGBu

— Rami Jarrah (@RamiJarrah) February 21, 2018

Jarrah says the regime and the Russians have played a hand in the deaths of civillians.

“Russia said they not attacking Ghouta, then they said they not attacking civilians. This is a ridiculous statement because Ghouta is made up of civilians. They are failing to mention this because these are families of the fighters. What do you expect of people who are under siege; they are going to join militias.”

Jarrah adds that the Russians are now targeting hospitals too.

“Eight hospitals have been taken out of service in three days, where on earth is that possible?”

He says that the fall of Ghouta is inevitable now.

“Even for a second to not want Ghouta to fall would be a little bit selfish, I’m from Damascus, this is my city being attacked now, so I have very mixed feelings right now.”

Jarrah says he wants Ghouta to fall so that people can leave the city and find refuge somewhere else in the world, in order for them to gain some dignity.

“But then you have the situation where you have the leader of the free world implementing these new laws preventing refugees from moving.”

He says the states who are currently on the ground are trying to push their own agendas.

“Countries who are involved in this have interests in advancing and to see what they can gain on the ground, one example is Turkey, who has an interest in preventing a Kurdish state from forming.”

Jarrah says people around the world are desensitized and have lost hope in Syria ever emerging from this civil war.