Women in Aleppo committing suicide to avoid rape

ALEPPO: Syrian women of the besieged city are committing suicide in an attempt to escape sexual abuse and rape at the hands of forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad, according to Syrian rebels. 

As rebel forces retreat further and Syrian regime forces take more control of eastern Aleppo, citizens held hostage in the conflict-torn city are helpless. Constant bombardment, coupled with lack of food, water and medical supplies are making it hard for them to survive. However, the women have it worst of all; reportedly as many as 20 women committed suicide in order to avoid getting raped by the Syrian army.

Abdullah Othman, head of the Consultative Council in the Levant Front – one of Aleppo’s largest rebel groups – said "This morning 20 women committed suicide in order not to be raped."

"Men, women and children were being cooked alive by barrel bombs dropped right where they stood. Women and children – their screams can be heard underneath the rubble," he added.

A Syrian nurse wrote a suicide note from a couple of days earlier, in which she called the Syrian army 'animals' and said she was about to commit suicide since she considered that 'the Day of Resurrection has taken place in Aleppo and I don't think Hell-Fire will be worse than this'. 

A ceasefire had been announced between rebel forces and the Syrian government, as regime forces closed in on eastern Aleppo after heavy bombardment by Russian warplanes had titled the battle in the favour of Bashar al-Assad.