The deadly fight for Aleppo
- By Sajjad Malik
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E-mail China.org.cn, December 6, 2016
Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party's nominee for president of the United States, during the campaign, was asked by a TV host what he would do if elected about Aleppo. Totally flabbergasted, he innocently asked back: "And what is Aleppo?" Obviously, the politician running for the top political job of the most powerful country on earth, which is also heavily involved in Syria, was unaware of the violence whacked city.
"And what is Aleppo" is ringing heavily in my ears as I see gory images of the city, its destroyed buildings and other infrastructure. Once being a bustling city, it is now a mere shadow of former glory.
The unfortunate Aleppo is increasingly becoming a graveyard of humanity. The killing of children and attacks on hospital have added a new grim dimension to the senseless violence that has become the fate of the ghost town and its tenants.
The battle for control of Aleppo is an issue of prestige for the government as well as the rebels. Reports show that the insurgents were very well entrenched and have been giving a tough time to the troops of Bashar al-Assad. Even Russian air power and relentless bombing have so far not been effective enough to weaken their hold.
The latest round of fighting started last month. It has produced some of the most gruesome images of human suffering. For example, a video showed rescuers cutting through rubble of concrete and iron to retrieve an injured girl less than five years of age. Several other photos and clips showed traumatized patients running for shelter after an air attack on a medical facility.
The plight of civilians caught in the war is worse than one can possibly imagine. There is a severe shortage of food and other items of daily use. Hospitals have been put out of operation due to bombings and lack of medicine. The situation in eastern part of the city, the central part of which is still under the control of the rebels, is worse than the western half held by the government forces.
The efforts for a ceasefire have been futile. The UN special representative Staffan de Mistura visited Damascus in November to convince the regime for peace. But his proposal to let the rebels run their part of the city was turned down. The Syrian government's foreign minister said that such an idea was violation of their "sovereignty."
We can just ponder over the meaning and status of the sovereignty of a country which has lost almost everything. Honestly, one needs a lot of courage to claim political jurisdiction over a piece of land which is not much different from a vast pool of blood. More than 300 people have been killed since November 15, when fighting started after a pause of several weeks, according to human rights bodies. And imagine the leadership of a country dreaming of sovereignty, sidestepping the dance of death.
Aleppo is at the center of struggle for more than five-and-a-half- years of old civil war. It has been divided between insurgents and government forces since mid-2012. Both sides have been trying to establish control over rival parts. It is more than a year since the Syrian army helped by Shiite militia embarked on a plan to retake the entire city. First, it besieged some parts in the eastern Aleppo before launching an offensive in September.
The situation has lately changed in favor of government. Officials claim that forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad would regain the entire eastern part within a week.
At stake in the east is the fate of more than 250,000 civilians who are trapped. The UN has been trying to reach them but so far without much luck. The civilians are clearly being used as human shields because they are not allowed to flee. As the fighting intensifies, it is feared more innocent lives will be lost.
Aleppo is important. And so is the battle for its control. Because it is the most important city along with Damascus. For any government to be recognized as representative enough, it should control both Damascus and Aleppo - the two jewels.
Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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