44 killed, dozens injured in Syrian bombing

Cairo, Dec 23 (IANS/EFE) At least 44 people, including six children, were killed and dozens wounded in an aerial bombardment by the Syrian regime in Aleppo city.

According to Rami Abdulrahman, the director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, it occurred in the city's Masaken Hanano neighbourhood.

The death toll could rise because of the seriousness of the injuries sustained by many of the wounded and the high number of missing people in the wake of the bombardment, he added.

Abdulrahman said among the dead were six children and two doctors who were working in the area, as well as volunteers who were helping the health care services.

Forces of the regime of Syrian President Bashar al Assad dropped barrels filled with explosives on the area from helicopters, using the same tactic in the neighbourhoods of Al Haidariya and Al Ahmadiya, where a market was damaged.

Syrian aircraft also attacked other towns around Aleppo, including Marea, where nine people died, more than 40 were wounded and a number of homes were destroyed.

The Observatory said that medical centres in the area are suffering from a shortage of medicines and urgent care supplies.

According to the United Nations, the Syrian conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 100,000 people since it erupted in March 2011, but the Observatory recently raised its death toll figure to more than 125,000.