Aid agencies call for access to besieged Eastern Ghouta

Aid agencies have urged the Syrian government to allow doctors and medical supplies into the Eastern Ghouta area in the suburbs of Damascus after a bombing campaign resulted in the destruction of hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

The rebel held area, which has been under siege since 2013, has been subject to a heavy bombing campaign by the Syrian government since the beginning of February. The United Nations Human Rights Office reported 1200 civilian casualties in the area between 4 and 21 February, including 346 deaths. Some 92 of these deaths reportedly occurred in just one 13 hour period on 19 February. The UN …