‘Today it was a taste of hell as portrayed in the Bible. Fires everywhere. Explosions. Mothers missing their children. Families shattered. No one is asking for food or support, but [instead] where they can hide themselves and their children.’
These grief-stricken words were written to Barnabas Fund by its representative, who is a senior doctor and leader in the Baptist community in Aleppo. An intense bombardment of mortars, gas cylinders and missiles had rained on residential areas throughout the divided city.
By 30 April, 1,350 rockets had hit the government area of the city alone, populated mostly by Christians, killing 132 people, half of them women and children. Around 600 people were injured. More civilians were killed and injured in the rebel-held areas of the city. On 29 April, rebels fired a rocket into one of the few remaining hospitals in the area which is providing free medical care.