Syrian Network for Human Rights

The Killing of 623 Civilians in March 2016
382 amongst which were killed by government forces


SNHR documented the killing of 382 civilians at the hands of government forces, including 48 women and 74 children (at a rate of killing 3 children daily). Additionally, not less than 42 individuals were killed under torture (with a rate of killing two individuals under torture every day).

The percentage of women and children who were killed in this month reached 32% among the total victims’ death toll; which is a strong indicator that government forces deliberately targeted civilians.

Different Syrian governorates, especially regions under the control of armed opposition, witnessed a significant decline in the shelling and killing percentages since March 2011. However, it is worth noting that regions under the government control or Kurdish Self Management Forces are not subjected to government shelling which is considered responsible for killing more than 60% of the victims in addition to destroying houses and displacing its residents.

We noticed that the residents sent their children back to schools again and great numbers of patients went to hospitals to get treated since the shelling decrease as hospitals and schools were continuously shelled. Additionally, infrastructure rehabilitation was conducted since the shelling has decreased.

However, the Syrian regime continued to breach the ceasefire in several ways as it is one of the most affected parties regarding this agreement and unpublicized violations have been continuous like torturing detainees.

The Syrian regime continued to commit massacres against civilians in regions that are under ISIL’s control. Government forces committed two massacres in Al Raqqa governorate on 18 and 19 March 2016 since ISIL-controlled regions are not included in the ceasefire agreement.

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