More than 140 civilians are reported to have died in Syria after a new wave of air strikes by Russia and Syrian government forces. <br />The United Nations has called the situation "extreme" and is appealing for a ceasefire.<br />Park Soyun reports.<br /> <br /> A wave of air strikes pounded an area just outside Damascus for a third day on Wednesday, defying the UN's call for a ceasefire.<br />The government of President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russian air power, has besieged eastern Ghouta as they look to crush extremist holdouts in the area.<br />The air strikes have reportedly killed at least 140 civilians since the government intensified its bombardment on Monday.<br />Monitoring groups said warplanes bombed several areas on Wednesday with buildings collapsing on residents.<br />On the third day of the bombing campaign, at least 32 people, including ten children, were killed.<br />Tuesday was one of the deadliest days, with 80 people, including 21 children, killed.<br />Approximately 400,000 people are trapped in Eastern Ghouta, which has been under siege by pro-government forces since 2013.<br />It escalated last May after Assad's forces conducted a large scale offensive in the area.<br /> Human rights groups are also investigating reports of alleged chemical attacks on civilians in two Syrian towns. <br />The French Foreign Minister said on Wednesday that "all indications show that the Syrian regime is using chlorine gas" at the moment.<br />The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, also released a statement condemning Damascus "in the strongest terms."<br /> The United Nations says the scale of suffering in Syria has reached unprecedented levels, with access to aid blocked in three major centers.<br /> The UN is calling for an immediate ceasefire to enable the delivery of humanitarian aid and to evacuate the critically ill and injured.<br />Park Soyun, Arirang News. <br />
