Merkel ‘horrified’ by Russian bombing in Syria as another drowning tragedy strikes

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she’s “not just appalled but horrified” by the suffering caused by Russian bombing in Syria. She spoke after holding talks with Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and against the backdrop of another developing migrant tragedy. Ms Merkel said Turkey and Germany would push at the United Nations for everyone to keep to a U.N. resolution passed in December that calls on all sides to halt without delay attacks on the civilian population. She was trying to identify common ground in Ankara on to reduce the influx of people into Europe.

We have been, in the past few days, not just appalled but horrified by what has been caused in the way of human suffering for tens of thousands of people by bombing — bombing primarily from the Russian side.

German chancellor Angela Merkel

As the talks were taking place, reports emerged that another 33 people died off Turkey’s coast attempting to reach Greece. Turkey’s coast guard said 22 migrants died after their boat capsized in the Bay of Edremit, while four people were rescued. Further south, another 11 people died in a separate boat accident, according to the private Dogan news agency. The coast guard has launched a search-and-rescue mission, including helicopters, to try to find 14 migrants who are reported to be missing. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said the Syrian city of Aleppo “is de facto under siege. We are on the verge of a new human tragedy”.

No one should assume that just because Turkey is taking in all the refugees that it should be expected to shoulder the refugee issue alone.

Turkey’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking as 30,000 Syrians wait on the border

Merkel