Ziad Al-Halabi, Baladi News, Aleppo
As a part of the violent Russian campaign on the city of Aleppo, Russian warplanes launched several airstrikes on the rebels-held areas in the city of Aleppo and its countryside using incendiary phosphorus and cluster bombs that are internationally prohibited.
Russian warplanes have started since nearly 40 days bombarding the rebels-held areas in the countryside of Aleppo with incendiary cluster bombs as they targeted the towns of: Kafr Hamra, Haritan, Hayyan, Anadan, Ma'ara Al-Artiek in the countryside of Aleppo. Moreover, Russian warplanes have also bombarded on Saturday night the densely populated residential neighborhoods inside Aleppo with a number of incendiary cluster bombs where they targeted the neighborhoods of Tareek Al-Bab, Al-Muwasalat, and Douhairat Awad, in addition to bombing in the last two days Bani Zaiad neighborhood with dozens of incendiary cluster bombs through which the regime forces tried to advance and seize control over some points in the neighborhood.
Yasser Houmaidi, the lieutenant colonel and commander of Jonoud Al-Rahman brigade in Aleppo said in an interview with Baladi News: "Russian warplanes have bombarded the neighborhoods of Aleppo with hundreds of the internationally banned incendiary phosphorous bombs. The seriousness of these weapons come from the burns they cause and the difficulty of treatment in the meantime along with the respiratory side as they cause suffocation and numerous problems in the respiratory system."
Commenting on the Russian focus on bombarding using the incendiary cluster weapon, he said: "Crime is the biggest motivation for such a use of internationally forbidden weapons. The phosphorus bombs weapon is for intimidation mainly and its main use is to kill the civilians."
A State of Shock
The heavy bombardment with incendiary cluster bombs is encountered by a severe lack of medical equipment and the necessary materials to treat the burning in the hospitals of the city of Aleppo.
Abdul Aziz, a surgeon at "Al-Zarzour" hospital explained to Baladi News by saying: "we hope for no more casualties among the civilians in the future because there aren't enough equipment to accommodate such conditions. We can currently deal and treat the burns caused by the incendiary phosphorus bombs as we deal and treat normal burns by giving antibiotics and ointments".
"Big and serious burns need intensive care rooms, but the city of Aleppo has only 10 beds. If we received more than 10 serious casualties among the civilians due to bombardment, we will declare our incapability of accommodating any condition", the doctor added.
Concerning the equipment of civil defense, Dr. Abdul Aziz called on the Health Directorate of Aleppo and the medical organizations to provide courses for the members of civil defense on how to deal with the cases of incendiary phosphorus bombardment and providing preliminary medical equipment for them; protective clothes and gloves to prevent contact with hazardous substances during rescuing the injured.