FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Project Amal ou Salam’s volunteers trapped in Eastern Aleppo
[13.12.2016] Project Amal ou Salam is very worried about the escalation of violence in Eastern Aleppo, with growing concern from the United Nations that civilians are being slaughtered mercilessly.
In August, our underground community centre, Beit Amal ou Salam, was forced to suspend its activities due to the worsening situation and has since been used as a shelter.
One of our volunteers, Louai Barakat, who became father last March, was forced to flee Aleppo for Turkey with his family.
Our coordinator Basem Ayoubi and another volunteer, Omar al-Arab, remained in town and kept us up-to-date with the latest news and developments.
They told us about the worst fears of civilians – being arrested and disappearing inside the regime’s prisons – and about the lack of basic goods, including food and medicines.
All we know is that Basem and Omar are safe, for now. They told us they want to leave but there is no safe exit from Aleppo.
Basem has never picked up a weapon in the six years he has been in Aleppo. Last night he told us he will pick up a gun and fight and die in Aleppo because he said he would rather die fighting than die in the prisons of the regime.
He asked for nothing but for us to make his voice heard.
At such a terrible moment in history, and emphasising once again that Project Amal ou Salam has always been strictly non-political and non-sectarian, we cannot stay silent.
Aleppo called for the attention of the international community many times and yet no one answered the cry for help of the people of Aleppo.
Heinous crimes are being committed in one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and it is happening live for everyone to watch.
Project Amal ou Salam stands in solidarity with the people of Aleppo and against the hatred and violence as we have always taught our children the power of love, mercy and hope.
