Image source: webtv.un
On February 22, 2016, Virginia Gamba, the head of the Joint Investigative Mechanism on the use of chemical weapons in Syria, stated that they are awaiting investigations into seven “potential” cases of chemical use in Syria.
Gamba confirmed that in her initial report to the UN Security Council, she received information on five potential chemical weapon attacks in Syria, in addition to two more cases identified later, with the latest incident occurring a week before the report was submitted.
Gamba emphasized that some materials are still under review this week. The final number of cases will be determined in the first week of March, after which in-depth investigations will commence.
The seven specified cases where chemical weapons are suspected to have been used include:
– Kafr Zeita in Hama Governorate, which occurred between April 11 and 18, 2014
– Tell Mannas in Idlib Governorate, which occurred on April 21, 2014
– Qminas in Idlib Governorate, which occurred on March 16, 2015
– Sarmin in Idlib Governorate, which occurred on March 16, 2015
– Marea in Aleppo Governorate, which occurred on August 21, 2015
– Binnish in Idlib Governorate, which occurred on March 23, 2015
-Al-Tamanah, which occurred between April 29 and 30, 2014, and from May 25 to 26, 2014
Gamba’s initial report is a summary of the first phase of investigations into the available information, the methodology employed by the Joint Investigative Mechanism, and future activities. The second phase, starting in March, will include in-depth investigations into these cases to potentially identify the perpetrators.
It is worth noting that the Chemical Violations Documentation Center of Syria (CVDCS) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Joint Investigative Mechanism as a partner in the initial investigations carried out by the Fact-Finding Mission (FFM). The reports from these investigations were adopted as a reference for the Mechanism’s investigations. The (CVDCS) also provided a list of evidence and witnesses that supported the Mechanism’s investigations and conclusions.
chemical_weapons chlorine_attack FFM opcw syria
