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The U.S. Embassy in Syria has reported that 30% of the Syrian population is affected by disabilities, due to various factors including chemical weapons attacks.
The embassy attributed the rise in disabilities in Syria to the violence associated with the ongoing conflict for the past 13 years, particularly highlighting the use of explosive and chemical weapons as a primary factor.
According to the U.S. Embassy in Syria, the disability rate in Syria is “twice” the global average, which is 15%.
Chemical weapons cause both physical and mental disabilities, some of which require high-level medical capabilities and may require years of treatment, with some injuries having no available cure.
In 2013, the largest attack using toxic chemical weapons in Syria occurred in the Ghouta region (both eastern and western), resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,400 people, most of whom were women and children. Around 3,600 people suffered from inhaling toxic chemical gases. A report by the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission confirmed that sarin was the toxic substance used in the Ghouta attack.
The disabilities caused by the chemical weapons attack also affected unborn fetuses. The Chemical Violations Documentation Center of Syria (CVDCS) documented 11 cases of deformed fetuses during the first chemical weapons attack on Damascus Ghouta: 6 in Zamalka, 1 in Ain Terma, 1 in Arbin, 1 in Douma, and 2 in Muadamiyat.
The CVDCS documented over 262 chemical attacks in Syria, resulting in 3,423 deaths and 13,947 injuries. The center and international teams have investigated 64 incidents so far.
In April 2024, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) expressed concerns about the continued development of chemical weapons in Syria, according to a report discussing the developments of Syria’s chemical weapons program.
The report stated that the General Secretariat considers the declaration by the “Syrian Arab Republic” regarding the removal and destruction of all chemical weapons “still cannot be considered accurate” according to the Chemical Weapons Convention, due to identified gaps and inconsistencies.
The Chemical Violations Documentation Center of Syria emphasizes the need to end all activities related to the production and storage of chemical weapons in Syria and to verify the Syrian regime’s declaration concerning facilities specializing in the manufacture of these weapons. It also calls for the investigation of all related activities not disclosed.
The CVDCS demands accountability for those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity due to the use of banned chemical weapons against civilians in Syrian cities, particularly those causing chronic disabilities.
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