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At least 70 dead in Syria chemical attack

8 April 2018

By Lauren E. White

WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES

Chemical weapons have been part of the Syrian Civil War for some time now, and the latest attack is being labelled as one of the worst in Syrian history. The alleged government-backed attack, which happened on 4th April, has killed at least 70 civilians and injured around 500, with many suffering serious reactions such as frothing at the mouth and corneal burns.

A statement from The White Helmets

The White Helmets, a volunteer organisation within Syria which comes to the emergency and medical aid of civilians injured in the war, said that most of the victims of the attack were women and children. Their images on Twitter show graphic scenes of dead children and screaming babies. US President Donald Trump said in response to the attack that “President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal [President Bashar al-] Assad…Big price to pay”.

Images published by The White Helmets of families killed in the gas attack

Both the Syrian and Russian governments have denied the allegations of a chlorine gas attack in Douma, in Eastern Ghouta. The Syrian American Medical Society, however, described smelling a “chlorine-like odour”.

“The reported symptoms indicate that the victims suffocated from the exposure to toxic chemicals, most likely an organophosphate element,” the society said.

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