Death had a different taste, a different color and smell on August 21st in Syria. As missiles loaded with poisonus gas hit several areas of the Damascus outskirts (Duma, Sakba, Zamalka, Ein Tarma), the world seem to wake up to the suffering of the Syrian people after years of indifference. The attacks killed around 1,300 civilians, while 3,000 others were injured, most of them severely.

Messages in solidarity with Syrians were shared all over the internet following the attacks, with social media users changing their profile to a picture reading “chemical massacre in Syria.” Pages of coordination committees, human rights groups and activists were flooded with pictures, songs and videos highlighting the Syrian struggle.

Activists in Damascus handed out leaflets with slogans condemning the bombing, and urging people to go on strike, once again, against the regime.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GppbEMuKSkI

"We sprayed the walls, the regime sprayed us with chemicals", activists from the Nabd group (Pulse) wrote on the walls of the besieged city of Homs. "Love each other", they added, while they also held candles in solidarity with the victims.

Silent sit-ins were organized in the city of Sweida, and in the occupied Golan, where Syrians living under Israeli occupation raised signs condemning the attacks. Activist Yasser khinjar was seen holding a sign that read: "Massacres will only increase our people’s will to rise against tyranny."

Sit-ins also took place in the French city of Leon and in other cities all over the world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF5xjgvZuLc

Amid all the destruction, sadness and anger, there were extremely moving moments, such as the video showing a father who found his son alive under the rubble. The images have become a symbol of life amidst death.

After two and a half years of regime brutality the regime, Syrians have responded to the use of chemical weapons, once again, with huge doses of creativity and life.