The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) has managed to establish full control over Saqba in Eastern Ghouta on Sunday, after intense battles with rebel forces.
SOT, resident (Arabic): “They [the insurgents] were forcing people to support them by making them starve. They starved and humiliated people. They were forcing the people who are not involved in weapons or any of that, who just wanted to get their daily food supplies. If someone heads out to bring wood or flour, they would put him in prison. They would beat and humiliate him, and anyone who objects to them will be killed next day in the square. This square attests to their crimes. They called it Martyrs Square. I don’t even know what to tell you. Many people were slaughtered and decapitated here. Another issue is that we spent forty days held in basements, we were fed animals fodder, and they fed us bran flour. The bran which no stomach nor human would accept. We were surprised yesterday when we got out that the stores were full of excellent wheat flour, while we were eating animal’s fodder, and the animals died because we had their fodder. A kilo of sugar has reached 15,000 liras, you could hardly find a kilo of rice, and if found, it would be for 10,000 liras. The people were just dead. You may see some smiles on people’s faces as the army has come, but it is greater happiness inside.”