Amina Habya in Zamalka, Ghouta, couldn’t sleep as she heard screams outside her window on the night of August 21, 2013. The regime of Bashar al-Assad had fired rockets filled with sarin gas at her neighborhood, causing panic among the residents. Habya quickly took action to protect herself and her family by soaking a towel in water and covering her nose as she led her daughters and sons-in-law to the safety of the highest floor in their building. Despite their efforts, her husband, son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren tragically suffocated to death in the attack.
Today, Amina Habya, now 60 years old, still resides in Zamalka with her remaining family members in a one-floor apartment. The area has been heavily affected by regime air strikes, with their building being one of the few still standing. Habya vividly recalls the horrifying aftermath of the sarin gas attack, showing a photo of her two deceased grandchildren wrapped in black blankets. The attack resulted in the death of over 1,100 people and left thousands suffering from respiratory symptoms.
The al-Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons during the war in Syria was a dark chapter in the conflict, with the regime being responsible for the majority of the 336 chemical weapon attacks. The attacks were part of a broader policy of collective punishment and targeted rebel-controlled areas. Despite the regime’s atrocities, international repercussions were limited, with many victims still seeking justice for the crimes committed against them.
While Habya’s daughter Eman Suleiman calls for accountability and justice, the road to achieving this seems challenging due to legal limitations. The lack of consequences for al-Assad’s actions has left many Syrians hungry for justice, with the hope that one day those responsible will be held accountable for their crimes. Despite the hardships they have faced, the survivors in Eastern Ghouta remain resilient, speaking out against the atrocities they have endured in the hopes of a better future.