Reports | 25 05 2020
Russian air raids on the city of Aleppo and its northern and eastern rural areas have intensified since Turkey downed one of Moscow’s aircraft. The bombing has had a devastating impact on the area’s economy.
Attacks on the road between the city of Aleppo and the Baab al-Salama border crossing in Izaaz in northern, rural Aleppo have impacted the whole region, because Baab al-Salama was, for a long time, the primarily source through which the city secured its food and other goods.
The Russian Bombardment
“The Russian aircraft bomb refrigerated trucks. A few days ago, they bombed a group of commercial trucks. Although people can manage without some goods, the food that is transported in these trucks is not something that they can manage without. A lack of food creates a crisis,” said Ahmad Douba, a businessman from Aleppo. “It was not us who downed the Russian aircraft. It was Turkey. Why do we get punished for something we did not do?” he asked.
Truck drivers fear for their lives, and many of them have quit their jobs since Russian intensified bombardment of this road and the trucks on it.
“I have a truck that I drive on Izaaz-Aleppo road— I transport food. Since the Russian bombardment of the road began, it has become too dangerous to drive, so we had to put our businesses on hold, and now we have no income,” said Abu Khaled Kharma, a truck driver.
Abu Khaled believes that what is happening in Syria is a war between major international players, and that Syrians are paying a high price for no reason. “Why are civilians a part of this? Why are they bombing areas next to the border crossing when it is the gateway where humanitarian aid comes in?” he asks.
Izaaz within Range of the Bombardment
The city of Izaaz in northern Syria is very close to the Syrian-Turkish border. Fearing Turkish anti-aircraft weapons, the Syrian regime’s Air Force had always avoided targeting the city, which, until recently, made it a safe shelter for many civilians. However, Turkey downing a Russian aircraft has angered Moscow, and according to informed sources, the bombardment is a reaction to that.
Russia has been intensely bombing the city of Izaaz, causing many deaths and injuries amongst civilians.
The Russian bombardment of Izaaz paralyzed the economy in the region, especially because Izaaz was the primary port of food and goods for many Syrian merchants.
“The city was an economic hub through which Turkish goods were brought to the city of Aleppo and the rural areas that surround Aleppo,” said Sobhi Rahmouni, one of Izaaz’s residents. “Many displaced people came to Izaaz and started small businesses, but the Russian bombardment has forced them to close their stores,” he adds.
People of Aleppo
Some residents of Aleppo spoke to Rozana about how the recent, intense Russian bombardment has affected economy in the city, and consequently their own lives.
“People in the city of Aleppo rely on the Baab al-Salama border crossing, because it is the only port for importing goods to Aleppo. They have no other source. It seems like the Russians do not want people to get food or medicine,” the media activist, Fadi al-Halabi, told Rozana.
Um Abdo, a woman from Aleppo, said, “the Russians target homes, border areas, and trucks loaded with humanitarian aid. We do not know where to go anymore.”
“Major international players are fighting on our land, and we, the civilians are paying the price. The recent, Russian bombardment is an act of revenge. Everybody knows that,” said Salam Ahmad, a woman from the neighborhood of Karm al-Jabal in Aleppo.
The daily suffering of Syrians continues, while those who have survived still hope to see real solutions in the near future; solutions that would, at least, lessen their daily suffering.