A Syrian family residing in Zamalka, a suburb near Damascus, recalls the harrowing experience of surviving a chemical weapons attack in August 2013. The attack, attributed to government forces under then-President Bashar Assad, targeted several Damascus suburbs, including Zamalka, claiming the lives of hundreds.
The Arbeeni family vividly remembers locking themselves in a windowless room as sarin gas, a highly toxic nerve agent, enveloped their neighborhood. The gas, capable of causing death within minutes, left them struggling to breathe, with stinging eyes and racing hearts.
Following instructions from local first responders, the family soaked cloths in water and vinegar to shield themselves from the gas. Huddled together for three agonizing hours, they emerged to a scene of devastation, with lifeless bodies strewn across the streets.
Despite surviving the ordeal, the family's trauma persists, compounded by the lack of justice for the victims. While the United States initially threatened military action in response to the attack, a subsequent deal with Russia saw Assad purportedly surrendering his chemical weapons stockpile.
However, suspicions linger that Assad's regime retained some weapons, as evidenced by subsequent chemical attacks, such as the 2018 chlorine gas incident in Douma. The Arbeeni family, like many others, yearns for accountability and justice for the innocent lives lost.
With the recent upheaval in Syria, marked by the ousting of Assad and the rise of new authorities led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, hopes for justice have been rekindled. Human Rights Watch emphasizes the critical need for preserving evidence and facilitating international investigations to ensure perpetrators are held accountable.
As Syria grapples with an uncertain future, the memory of the Zamalka attack lingers, symbolized by the unmarked graves in the Martyrs Cemetery. Families like the Arbeenis continue to mourn their loved ones, advocating for justice and remembrance of the victims of Syria's prolonged conflict.
