A/HRC/25/65 Hama governorate 17. Government helicopters, flying at high altitudes, dropped barrel bombs on towns and villages inhabited by civilians in Hama governorate. On 9 August, the Government targeted Al-Hawwash with barrel-bombs, causing significant civilian death and injuries. On 14 October, on Eid Al-Adha, Government helicopters launched six aerial strikes, dropping barrel bombs on each occasion. Two people were killed, including one child while 20 were injured. The next day, helicopters targeted Al-Latamneh with three barrel bombs. One hit a house, killing three children from one family. Al-Raqqah governorate 18. Government helicopters dropped barrels bombs on Al-Raqqa city in July and August 2013. In all instances documented, there were significant civilians casualties, a high proportion of which were children. 19. On 30 July, shortly before the breaking of the Ramadan fast, a helicopter flew over the Al-Raqqa city twice, dropping two barrel bombs in each sortie. The residential areas of Ta’meer and Badow were hit, killing 13 civilians including 7 children and 3 women. Twenty people were injured and there was significant damage to houses. 20. On 2 August 2013, a helicopter dropped two barrel bombs in two consecutive raids on residential areas. While one hit a vacant park, the other struck a residential building, killing a woman and her brother. Thirty-two others were injured. 21. On 10 August, four barrel bombs were dropped on residential areas, again in AlRaqqa city, killing 36 people and injuring many more. Aleppo governorate 22. The campaign of shelling and aerial bombardment of Aleppo governorate has been prosecuted with shocking intensity. The Government’s on-going campaign has made liberal use of barrel bombs on Al-Safirah in September and on Aleppo city and the Al-Bab region in particular, between November 2013 and January 2014. 23. Al-Safirah, a town 25 kilometres east of Aleppo city, is home to a large number of internally displaced persons, many of whom live in a camp on the outskirts of the town. In early September, Government helicopters released several barrel bombs over Al-Safirah and its IDP camp. While rebel fighters were present in the town and numbered among the casualties, the majority of those killed were civilians. The shelling and bombardment, including with barrel bombs, continued into October. On 20 October, civilians fleeing the town were killed in barrel bomb attacks on their vehicles. 24. Barrel bombs were dropped by Government helicopters on Aleppo city throughout November and December. Attacks have continued into January 2014. Use of barrels bombs in Aleppo city was documented as taking place on 23 November, on 9, 16, 17, 20, 24, 28 December and on 1 January 2014. Across the span of these attacks, several hundred of civilians have been killed, many of them children. 25. On 23 November, a helicopter targeted Al-Marjeh neighbourhood in Aleppo city with three barrel bombs. Twenty-eight people were killed and 25 others were injured. All the victims were civilians. Ten civilian homes were also destroyed. On the same day, barrel bombs exploded in a vegetable market in Tariq Al-Bab neighbourhood, killing 25 civilians, many of them women and children. The blast caused a fire which led to further civilian casualties and injuries. 52