The battle for the Syrian city of Aleppo has left hundreds of people dead or injured. There have been over 2300 mortars between 23 April and 3 May. Fighting is putting at risk a fragile ceasefire in a country suffering 5 years of war. Joseph, a Caritas Syria employee in Aleppo, sent this report.
The appartment of Caritas staff in Aleppo. Credit: Caritas Syria
“What is happening? Where is my father? Where are my children?” For more than 10 days, the people of Aleppo have been asking these questions.
Mortars fall in every neighbourhood. Areas with schools and universities have not been spared. Even parts of town with hospitals such as Al-Dabit Hospital, one of the best in the country, and Al-Razi public hospital, which gives all medical services for free, are under threat.
The people are afraid. They are just waiting their turn for who will be hurt next. They are just asking God how many hours they have left to live.
Caritas staff in Aleppo are doing what they can to help a city under seige. Credit: Caritas Syria
People go to work as usual, but they don’t know if they’ll ever see their families again. Students continue to go to school despite the shrapnel, because life must go on. More people are leaving behind their destroyed houses to find safety in other cities.
Some Caritas staff members in Aleppo have seen their homes damaged. A receptionist in our Aleppo office and a lawyer in our rent project have both had their houses completely destroyed.
Medicine is still available in all the hospitals and pharmacies. There is electricity for about 2 hours a day. Drinking water relies on the pumping machines at Suleiman Alhalabi Station. They rely on electricity, so the government has been sending fuel across the frontline to the station to keep these machines pumping water to the city.
Maternity hospital in Al-Mohafaza neighborhood, Aleppo. Credit: Caritas Syria
Our work continues. Our staff can no longer easily visit the victims in their homes and in hospitals because of the shelling but they are still collecting information about needs and hope to help them in the coming days.
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