Research Catalog

Title

Razed to the ground : Syria's unlawful neighborhood demolitions in 2012-2013 / [Ole Solvang, Anna Neistat].

Author

Solvang, Ole

Publication

• [New York, New York] : Human Rights Watch, 2014.
• ©2014

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Neistat, Anna
• Human Rights Watch (Organization), issuing body.

Description

47 pages : color maps; 27 cm

Summary

"Since July 2012, Syrian authorities have deliberately demolished thousands of residential buildings, in some cases entire neighborhoods, using explosives and bulldozers, in Damascus and Hama, two of Syria's largest cities. Government officials and pro-government media outlets have claimed that the demolitions were part of urban planning efforts or removal of illegally constructed buildings. However, the demolitions were supervised by military forces and often followed fighting in the areas between government and opposition forces. These circumstances, as well as witness statements and more candid statements by government officials reported in the media indicate that the demolitions were related to the armed conflict and in violation of international humanitarian law, or the laws of war. Human Rights Watch concluded that seven cases of large-scale demolitions documented in this report violated the laws of war either because they served no necessary military purpose and appeared intended to punish the civilian population, or because they caused disproportionate harm to civilians. Those responsible for the wanton destruction of civilian property or for imposing collective punishment have committed war crimes and should be investigated and held to account. The first incident of large-scale demolitions documented by Human Rights Watch took place in July 2012. Satellite imagery analyzed by Human Rights Watch shows that since then, the Syrian authorities have demolished a total of at least 145 hectares--an area equivalent to about 200 soccer fields--of mostly residential buildings in seven neighborhoods in Hama and Damascus. Many of the demolished buildings were apartment blocks several stories high, some as many as eight. Thousands of families have lost their homes as a result of these demolitions"--Provided by publisher.

Alternative Title

• Syria's unlawful neighborhood demolitions in 2012-2013
• Syria : razed to the ground

Subject

• 2011
• Destruction and pillage
• Syria > History > Destruction and pillage. > Civil War, 2011-
• Syria

Genre/Form

History.

Note

• "January 2014"--Table of contents page.
• "Ole Solvang wrote the report, and Anna Neistat contributed to the writing"--Page 47.

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references.

Additional Formats (note)

• Also issued online via the Human Rights Watch Web site.

Contents

Map -- Summary -- Recommendations. To the Syrian Government ; To the UN Security Council ; To all countries -- Methodology -- I. Demolition of Mashaʼ al-Arbʼeen neighborhood, Hama -- II. Demolition of Wadi al-Jouz neighborhood, Hama -- III.Demolitions in Qaboun neighborhood, Damascus -- IV. Demolitions in Tadamoun neighborhood, Damascus -- V. Demolitions in Barzeh neighborhood, Damascus -- VI. Demolitions around Mezzeh airport, Damascus -- VII. Demolitions in Harran Al-ʼAwamid neighborhood, Damascus -- VIII. Legal framework -- Acknowledgements.

ISBN

• 9781623130954
• 1623130956

LCCN

2015487933

OCLC

• ocn871691063
• 871691063
• SCSB-14375142

Owning Institutions

Princeton University Library