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February 14, 2012

Syria: Homs Faces Food Crisis as Attacks Continue 
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Syrian government forces have reportedly attacked opponents of President
Bashar al-Assad on several fronts, sending residents fleeing from one
town near the capital and bombarding the city of Homs for an eleventh
day running. Citizens of Homs are facing a humanitarian crisis. Food and
fuel are scarce and most shops shut due to relentless shelling and
rocket fire. At the United Nations, Commissioner for Human Rights Navi
Pillay said Assad has been emboldened by what she described as the
Security Council's failure to agree on collective action.

Navi Pillay: "I am particularly appalled by the ongoing onslaught on
Homs. Since 3 February, in further escalation of its assault, the
government has used tanks, mortars, rockets and artillery to pummel the
city of Homs. According to credible accounts, the Syrian army has
shelled densely populated neighborhoods of Homs in what appears to be an
indiscriminate attack on civilian areas."



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