Syrian Activists: Government's Strategy for Seizing Daraya is 'Surrender or Die'

Despite international pressure and repeated requests from aid workers, the Syrian government has yet to agree to humanitarian assistance for the besieged area of 'Daraya' near Damascus. Syrian activists report a worsening situation, and rebels have set a 48-hour deadline for the government to cease its attacks. Daraya is located just a few kilometers from the Syrian capital and was one of the first areas to witness protests against Bashar al-Assad's regime five years ago. Shortly thereafter, in 2012, it has been under siege by government forces. The central Syrian government has agreed to aid some famine-stricken areas, but Daraya is not among them. According to a spokesperson for the 'Syrian Campaign', a monitoring group for the country's civil war, the government's strategy for controlling this area is 'surrender or die of hunger'. Bisan Faqih states, 'Daraya is at the entrance to Damascus, so the government does not relent from [the siege]'. A source close to the Damascus government also indicates that this city holds 'special significance' for Assad and his forces: 'The government is trying to retake this strategic area and is not seeking a ceasefire there'. Previously, the International Red Cross had also stated that it was not allowed to send humanitarian aid convoys into the city. Meanwhile, reports indicate that groups led by the 'Free Syrian Army' have given the central government 48 hours to cease its operations and attacks in Daraya and Ghouta, another suburb of Damascus, or they will end the ceasefire. Nearly 30 groups have signed this statement, stating that if no action occurs in this timeframe, they will consider 'the complete end of the ceasefire': 'We give the ceasefire supporters 48 hours to save what remains of the ceasefire and demand that the murderous regime of Assad and its allies immediately end their violence against Ghouta and Daraya'. In the past week, Syrian government forces, with the help of Hezbollah, have taken control of Deir al-Asafir and several towns and villages in the Damascus suburbs. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported that government forces have exploited the situation created by clashes among opposition groups to seize areas around Daraya and Ghouta. A group of activists remaining in Daraya says that since December, there has been no safe way in or out of the city. According to reports, the population of the city, which once had 80,000 residents, has decreased by 90%.