I- Brief Definition:
The Syrian Network for Human Rights is an independent, non-governmental and non-profit human rights organization that investigates and documents all violations committed by all parties involved in the Syrian conflict since 2011.
SNHR was founded in June 2011 after an initiative from Mr. Fadel Abdul Ghany, who is currently the Chairman of the organization. The network aims to defend the human rights of the Syrian people; it also includes dozens of researchers and human rights activists stationed in Syria and in other neighboring countries.
II- Syrian Governments’ Use of Barrel Bombs
By daily observing and recording violations, after the beginning of the popular protests in March 2011, we found out that first significant use of barrel bombs by government forces (Military forces, security forces, local militias, and foreign Shiite militias) was on Monday 1 October, 2012 in Idlib – Silqean town where a helicopter dropped a barrel bomb on a two-floor residential building which collapsed completely and 32 civilians, including seven women and seven children, were killed in addition to 120 others who were injured as shrapnel scattered everywhere.
It is worth noting that this might not be the first time barrel bombs were used but it was the first time it was used in such a notable manner. The international community was not familiar with that kind of weapon yet. Barrel bombs sometimes weigh quarter of ton and rely on the free fall principle. These barrels are random weapons and locally made, since it is less expensive, causes massive destruction, and causes a great loss of lives. 99% of the casualties are civilians, where the percentage of targeted women and children ranges between 12 and 35%.
