Why You Need to Care Now About the Tragedy in Aleppo

As airstrikes target the Syrian city of Aleppo, there are reports, far too many reports to simply say there are reports. Sometimes it’s clear what is happening. Assad regime forces are going house to house and murdering civilians inside.

Since early in the morning (late last night for us in North America), residents of the city under siege and even journalists reporting from there have been taking to social media not just to report on what is happening but to say what they fear might be a final farewell. People are being murdered indiscriminately. Many more will die.

Apparently, rain is a good thing today, because it means the bombings stop for a while and people have a chance to regroup, hide or possibly escape.

Hospitals are a target in Aleppo, to a degree previously unseen. There is a report today of an entire hospital staff being murdered.

This isn’t going to be a long post. This isn’t the time or the place for intellectual analysis. People are dying. I’m not sure what people living halfway across the world can do about it aside from spreading awareness and contacting government officials over here and try and force them to do something, to put a stop to what seems unstoppable.

As of the time this is being published, Russia is claiming that their military action over East Aleppo has stopped and “the Syrian Government is in control.” Considering they’re referring to the same regime forces that are doing the killing on the ground, speaking up is still essential.

Meanwhile, the United Nations convened an Emergency Security Council Meeting which lasted just over 20 minutes. If all they’re willing to spend on this catastrophe is 20 minutes, then we really need to let them know it’s not enough.

Under the Jasmine has a list of some Canadian politicians to contact and an international campaign as well. That’s a start. So is forcing media to cover the story and report what’s really happening.

Not sure if it will help, but at the very least we need to try…today, because tomorrow may be too late.