Damascus, SANA-The “Association of Victims of Chemical Weapons (AVCW),” in cooperation with the “Women’s Support and Empowerment Center” and the “Anbar Community Center,” organized a special event on Friday to commemorate the 12th anniversary of the chemical massacre committed by the defunct regime in Eastern and Western Ghouta in August 2013.
The event, titled “Massacre of the Century,” included a moment of silence for the souls of the martyrs who perished in the massacre, and a documentary promo showcasing scenes from the targeted towns during the regime’s attack, the suffering of the residents, rescue operations carried out by the local community and medical teams, as well as documented mass graves.
It also featured testimonies from survivors, victims’ families, and the injured, detailing the attack. A photo exhibition presented forensic evidence of the chemical massacre, documenting the timing of the attack and images of the martyrs and the wounded.
During the event, participants called for revealing the names of those responsible for the massacre, referring them to justice and holding them accountable in court. They stressed the need to strengthen cooperation between civil society organizations and the Transitional Justice Commission, and to provide support to the families of martyrs and the injured.
In a statement to SANA’s correspondent, Dr. Ahmad al-Baqa’i, a member of the Chemical Weapons Victims Association and one of the rescuers during the massacre, said it was difficult to preserve the narrative of the massacre due to the disinformation spread by the defunct regime over the years to local, regional, and international public opinion.
Huda Khaiti, director of the Women’s Support and Empowerment Center, stated that after the liberation of Syrian provinces from the defunct regime, the massacre’s documents, names of the martyrs, and burial sites were made public. Due to the security conditions imposed by the regime, families of the victims were able, for the first time, to place markers on the graves of the martyrs.
Dr. Ayman Issa, one of the rescuers during the massacre, recounted some of the events that took place, saying: “When Zamalka was targeted, we didn’t realize it was a chemical attack until two hours later. We faced immense difficulties in rescuing the injured, as medical centers were under siege and nearly non-existent. We stood helpless before thousands of injured and martyrs.”
Mundhir Natouf, a member of the media office in Moadamiyah al-Sham, highlighted the importance of documenting all crimes committed by the defunct regime against the Syrian people, identifying those responsible, and holding them accountable to ensure justice and reparations.
Muhannad al-Hassani, lawyer and head of the Syrian Organization for Human Rights “Sawasiya,” stated that it is essential to commemorate the massacre and embed it in Syria’s collective memory. He noted that the martyrs who perished in this massacre should serve as a beacon for future generations, laying the foundation for a new phase in Syria free from tragedies.
The chemical massacre is considered one of the most heinous crimes committed by the defunct regime against civilians in Damascus’s Ghouta in 2013.
MHD Ibrahim
