A Syrian residential quarter called “1070,” located in Aleppo, was captured by al-Nusra Front at the end of July. The residents of the quarter are now barely making ends meet in areas of Aleppo.
Fighters from Al-Qaeda’s Syrian affiliate Al-Nusra Front. (File)
© AFP 2016/ Fadi al-Halabi / AMC
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The 1070 quarter is referred to this because there are 1,070 residential apartments built in the area. Residents of this quarter, which was previously a haven for many local refugees, have been forced to flee their homes to escape the violence of the militants.
In areas of Aleppo, which are under the control of the Syrian Army, a small camp for fleeing civilians has been organized. Those who did not get a place in the shelter, sleep on mattresses under the scorching sun.
Talking about his ordeal and the horrors inflicted by the al-Nusra Front terrorists, one resident who fled 1070 named Samer told Sputnik how he ran for his life.
Samer said that he had to spend the night outside because of the terrorist attacks on their residential area.
“It is better to sleep under a scorching sun, than to live under the oppression of the militants. Many of those who escaped cannot afford a roof over their heads but it is still very dangerous to go home,” Samer said.
Women react as they walk along a street after they were evacuated with others by the Syria Democratic Forces (SDF) fighters from an Islamic State-controlled neighbourhood of Manbij, in Aleppo Governorate, Syria, August 12, 2016
© REUTERS/ Rodi Said
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In areas controlled by the rebels, civilians are being used as human shields. In order to prevent people from running away for their lives the militants have resorted to the most common method of retention, by positioning militants in high concentration in the residential areas.
Simultaneously, local residents who are living in the area are under the constant threat of punishment from the terrorists because if they attempt to flee they can be prosecuted. The militants use the civilians as human shields in the event of clashes with the Syrian Army.
Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with government forces loyal to President Bashar Assad fighting a number of opposition factions and extremist groups.
Daesh, which is outlawed in many countries, including the United States and Russia, took over parts of the country in 2014. The US-led coalition has been conducting anti-Daesh airstrikes in Syria and Iraq since 2014.
