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Douma, Syria

Coordinates: 33°34′16″N 36°24′04″E / 33.57111°N 36.40111°E / 33.57111; 36.40111
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Douma
دوما
Douma is located in Syria
Douma
Douma
Location in Syria
Coordinates: 33°34′16″N 36°24′04″E / 33.57111°N 36.40111°E / 33.57111; 36.40111
Country Syria
GovernorateRif Dimashq
DistrictDouma
Elevation
428 m (1,404 ft)
Population
 (2004 census)
 • Total
110,893[1]
Demonym(s)Template:Lang-ar
Template:Lang-ar
GeocodeC2338
ClimateBSk

Douma (Template:Lang-ar) is a city in Syria. Its centre is about 10 km (6 mi) northeast of the centre of Damascus. Being the centre of Rif Dimashq governorate (which completely surrounds the Damascus Governorate), the town is also the administrative centre of Douma District. Douma is a major city of the region known as Ghouta, for the peri-urban settlements to the east and south of Damascus.

History

21st century

During the Syrian Civil War, Douma has been a major flashpoint and witnessed numerous demonstrations against the Syrian government and armed clashes against the Syrian Army and Security forces during the early stages of the conflict.[2][3]

On 30 January 2012, the Syrian Army gained control of the city after the Battle of Douma, a major operation against the opposition armed groups in Rif Dimashq Governorate.[citation needed]

On 29 June 2012, the Syrian Army was accused of committing a massacre in Douma, where more than 50 people were killed.[4]

As of 18 October 2012, the Free Syrian Army was in control of most of the suburb. Fighting and bombardments continued in the town.[5]

Douma is the main city of the Siege of Eastern Ghouta, begun in April 2013, isolating 400,000 people in a 100 square kilometre area. UN and Red Cross aid convoys were able to reach Douma with food and supplies once in 2018.[6]

In the 2015 Douma market massacre, the city was attacked by Syrian Army ground-to-ground missiles, leaving at least 50 dead and several more missing.[7]

In early 2018, the main rebel faction based in the city was Saudi Arabian-backed[8] Jaysh al-Islam (Army of Islam),[9][10] with an estimated 10-15,000 fighters in the region.[11]

On 7 April 2018, a suspected chemical attack was carried out in the city.[12][13][14]In September 2018 the UN Commission of Enquiry on Syria reported: "Throughout 7 April, numerous aerial attacks were carried out in Douma, striking various residential areas. A vast body of evidence collected by the Commission suggests that, at approximately 7.30 p.m., a gas cylinder containing a chlorine payload delivered by helicopter struck a multi-storey residential apartment building located approximately 100 metres south-west of Shohada square. The Commission received information on the death of at least 49 individuals, and the wounding of up to 650 others... the Commission cannot make yet any conclusions concerning the exact causes of death, in particular on whether another agent was used in addition to chlorine that may have caused or contributed to deaths and injuries"[15] According to The Interim Report of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission "No organophosphorus nerve agents or their degradation products were detected, either in the environmental samples or in plasma samples from the alleged casualties". [16]Local rebels and civilians were sent into northern Syria in forced exile. Similar forced displacement deals have taken place all over Syria. [17]

Climate

Douma has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk).

Climate data for Douma
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 12.1
(53.8)
14.0
(57.2)
18.1
(64.6)
22.9
(73.2)
28.5
(83.3)
33.3
(91.9)
35.5
(95.9)
35.6
(96.1)
32.1
(89.8)
26.8
(80.2)
19.8
(67.6)
14.0
(57.2)
24.4
(75.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6.8
(44.2)
8.1
(46.6)
11.5
(52.7)
15.4
(59.7)
20.1
(68.2)
24.2
(75.6)
26.0
(78.8)
26.0
(78.8)
22.8
(73.0)
18.5
(65.3)
12.9
(55.2)
8.5
(47.3)
16.7
(62.1)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 1.5
(34.7)
2.3
(36.1)
4.9
(40.8)
8.0
(46.4)
11.7
(53.1)
15.1
(59.2)
16.6
(61.9)
16.5
(61.7)
13.5
(56.3)
10.2
(50.4)
6.1
(43.0)
3.1
(37.6)
9.1
(48.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 33
(1.3)
39
(1.5)
20
(0.8)
13
(0.5)
7
(0.3)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
8
(0.3)
25
(1.0)
40
(1.6)
185
(7.3)
Source: Climate-Data.org [18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "population of Douma, syria 2004 census". CBSSYR. Retrieved 2013-11-17.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "Syria's Douma 'wants its dead'". TVNZ. 3 April 2011. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 29 December 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Arab League monitors stoke anti-government protests in Syria". USA Today. 29 December 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  4. ^ Erika Solomon, Reuters (29 June 2012). "Syrian civil war: Douma siege kills nearly 200, including young children and entire families". National Post. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ Di Giovanni, JANINE (18 October 2012). "Denial Is Slipping Away as War Arrives in Damascus". Tge New York Times. Retrieved 20 October 2012.
  6. ^ "UN convoy delivers aid to Eastern Ghouta amid 'calm'". BBC News. 9 March 2018.
  7. ^ Reuters Editorial (22 August 2015). "Over 50 people killed in Syrian missile strikes at rebel areas near Damascus". Reuters. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ "MAPPING MILITANT ORGANIZATIONS: Jaish al-Islam". Stanford University. 31 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Who are the rebel groups fighting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government forces in Eastern Ghouta?" SBS News. 2 March 2018.
  10. ^ "Reports of Douma evacuation deal 'not true': council member". Al-Jazeera. 1 April 2018.
  11. ^ "Which rebel groups are fighting in Syria's eastern Ghouta?". Deutsche Welle. 20 February 2018.
  12. ^ https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/despite-delay-experts-say-any-evidence-suspected-syria-chemical-attack-n868131
  13. ^ https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2018/04/09/america-vows-to-respond-to-a-suspected-chemical-attack-in-syria
  14. ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-43697084
  15. ^ [1] Report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, Section 92
  16. ^ https://www.opcw.org/sites/default/files/documents/S_series/2018/en/s-1645-2018_e_.pdf
  17. ^ The Guardian 9 April 2018 [2]
  18. ^ "Climate: Douma". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved September 23, 2018. }}

33°34′16″N 36°24′04″E / 33.57111°N 36.40111°E / 33.57111; 36.40111