‘We will just die silently’: Journalist in eastern Aleppo describes bombings

Bombs continue to drop on the besieged parts of eastern Aleppo in what freelance journalist Zouhir Al-Shimale is calling “massacres.”

Al-Shimale spoke with Global News anchor Farah Nasser over Skype from Aleppo and he said the majority of the 60,000 people trapped are civilians.

“There are rebels for sure who cannot leave the city, but there are many families,” Al-Shimale said.

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A ceasefire deal between rebels and the Syrian government in Aleppo effectively collapsed on Wednesday as fighter jets resumed deadly air raids over the opposition’s densely crowded enclave in the eastern part of the city.

During Al-Shimale’s Skype call with Global News, the sounds of bombs dropping on the once vibrant city can be heard in the background.

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The journalist has been tweeting about the devastation and said the weather now is getting very cold and with a lack of fuel and electricity, people are struggling to stay warm.

“There is no source of heat and there is no source of livelihood in this city. People can just barely live,” he said.

On Tuesday, the U.N. Human Rights Office said it received reports that at least 82 civilians were killed “on the spot” as pro-government forces closed in on capturing remaining neighbourhoods in Aleppo.

“The constant attacks haven’t stopped,” Al-Shimale said. “It’s getting really furious now.”

Al-Shimale said it’s up to the international community to intervene and stop what he says is the catastrophe of the Syrian people.

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“People in Aleppo are being killed every time and every minute … Noone will care about us… we will just die silently.”

But Al-Shimale said he will continue to shed light on the devestation that is happening in eastern Aleppo.

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“Not silently for me because I’ve been screaming from the morning until now for people to help this city.”

With files from The Associated Press