The Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR) has issued its monthly report for May, documenting the deaths of 96 civilians, including 15 children and 11 women, and nine people who died as a result of torture.
The report has also recorded at least 162 cases of arbitrary arrest and detention in May at the hands of the parties fighting in the Syrian conflict, including five children, with the largest percentage of these carried out by Syrian regime forces in the provinces of Tartous, Hama, and then Damascus.
In addition to these incidents, the report also documents in May at least seven attacks on vital civilian facilities, one of which was at the hands of Syrian regime forces. The other six were as a result of bombings, but the report was unable to identify their perpetrators.
Bombardment
Nevertheless, the SNHR’s report documents a reduction in the frequency of artillery and missile bombardment by Syrian regime forces and their allies on the cities and towns of the southern suburbs of Idleb, the western suburbs of Hama, and the eastern suburbs of Aleppo close to the frontlines. However, the shelling of the areas near these contact lines by the Syrian regime’s forces caused fires in agricultural land in the area of Jabal al-Zawiya in the southern suburbs of Idleb and wheat fields in the Sahel al-Ghab area of the western suburbs of Hama, causing significant material damage for the farmers.
The report notes that clashes continued in May between the Syrian National Army forces and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in the villages of Ein Eisa in the northern suburbs of Raqqa, which are under the control of the SDF.
The report additionally reveals that bombings continued in all regions in Syria throughout May, especially in northern and eastern Syria. These bombings were concentrated in the areas of al-Bab, Jarablos, and Afrin in the suburbs of Aleppo, and Ras al Ein in the northwestern suburbs of Hasaka. The report adds that mines also continue to claim a large number of civilian lives across Syria. In May, the SNHR documented the deaths of nine civilians due to mines, including four children.
The report further reveals that May saw a significant increase in the number of infection cases with COVID-19 compared to previous months in all Syrian regions, with the regime’s Ministry of Health in May officially announcing 1,762 new cases and 178 deaths.
In northwestern Syria, more infections and deaths due to coronavirus were recorded in May, with the Early Warning Alert and Response Network (EWARN) announcing 1,558 new infections and 17 deaths related to COVID-19, the highest monthly results announced since the beginning of 2021.
In Northeastern Syria, a total of 2,024 cases of infection and 151 deaths were recorded in May, according to the Health Authority in the Autonomous Region.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
