Shocking photos show reality of life in Syria after alleged chemical attack

NOTHING captures the horror of the latest attacks in Syria like these powerful photos of children caught in the aftermath. WARNING: Graphic.

WARNING: Graphic

SHOCKING images of Syrian children left fighting for their lives have beamed around the world following an apparent gas attack on Saturday evening.

More than 500 civilians — mostly women and children — are said to be injured following the attack in Douma, with many of those seen at medical centres having difficulty breathing.

Local reports suggest up to 70 people may have been killed, including families found in their homes and shelters.

The horrific photos speak for themselves. Be warned — they’re graphic.

An image grab taken from a video released by the Syrian civil defence in Douma shows an unidentified volunteer holding an oxygen mask over a child's face at a hospital. Picture: AFP

A Syrian child at a hospital following the reported chemical attack. Picture: AFP

A rescue worker carries a child following an alleged chemical weapons attack in the rebel-held town of Douma. Picture: AP

Disturbing footage has also emerged of lifeless men, women and children sprawled on floors and in stairwells, many with white foam coming from their mouths and nostrils.

Among the distressing clips was a father begging his dead daughter to wake up and children being hosed down in a hospital.

Bodies inside a room following an alleged chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Douma. Picture: AFP

Local media reports suggest up to 70 people died after a helicopter dropped a barrel bomb allegedly containing Sarin gas, a nerve toxin that kills within minutes of direct inhalation unless treated quickly with an antidote. Picture: AAP

The opposition’s Syrian Civil Defence rescue organisation said the victims appeared to have suffocated.

They did not identify the substance used, but the civil defence organisation, also known as the White Helmets, and the Syrian American Medical Society, a medical relief organisation, said survivors treated at clinics smelled strongly of chlorine.

Children have been hit the hardest by an alleged chemical attack in Syria over the weekend. Picture: AP

Those reports could not be independently verified because of a government blockade around the town.

Emergency workers said families had been hiding in their basements following earlier air strikes and the gas seeped through the buildings and suffocated them.

Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop issued a statement on Monday condemning the reported attack, and called on parties involved in the continuing conflict in Syria, to “apply maximum pressure on the Syrian regime to fully halt any and all chemical weapons related activity”.

“The use of chemical weapons at anytime, anywhere, under any circumstances is abhorrent and deserves investigations and accountability,” Ms Bishop said.

Donald Trump warned there would be a “big price to pay” following the “mindless” chemical attack. Picture: AFP

The alleged attack came almost exactly a year after another Syrian chemical attack on civilians, which prompted US President Donald Trump to launch a missile strike on a Syrian air base.

Syrian state media today reported a missile strike on a military airport in the country’s centre, shortly after Mr Trump issued a new warning to Damascus and its allies condemning the chemical attack.

He warned there will be a “big price to pay” following the “mindless” attack.

He took to Twitter to slam the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad as an “animal”, while accusing Russia and Iran of backing him.

Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price...

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

....to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018

Syrian state media and the regime’s ally Russia denounced claims of chemical use as “fabrications”.

Syria’s news agency said it was likely “an American aggression”, but US officials said the US had not launched air strikes.

“At this time, the Department of Defense (sic) is not conducting air strikes in Syria,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

“However, we continue to closely watch the situation and support the ongoing diplomatic efforts to hold those who use chemical weapons, in Syria and otherwise, accountable.”

Israel has also struck inside Syria in recent years.

Syrian Army soldiers advancing in an area on the eastern outskirts of Douma, as they continue their fierce offensive. Picture: AFP

Syrian Army soldiers advancing in an area on the eastern outskirts of Douma. Picture: AFP

Human rights groups and United Nations officials said the tactic amounted to forced displacement, a war crime.

It’s been exactly a year and a day after the US fired cruise missiles at a Syrian air base in retaliation for a deadly sarin gas attack in 2017.