SIR - Yet another atrocity, this time in Douma in Syria, to add to a year which may be remembered for war crimes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) have said 500 people came to the medical facilities of its health partners and they reported the victims showing clear signs and symptoms consistent with being the result of chemical agent attack.
Russia responded, "There was no chemical attack," but this kind of quick, flat denial seems something of a habit and all the more dubious for it. The WHO has asked for "unhindered access" to the site and victims, but it remains to be seen whether this will be allowed to happen.
What can be done next which might provide better outcomes and avoid making things worse? There have been so many previous responses which we were told at the time were "right" but in the end were shown to be mistakes, the result of flawed thinking. Cool heads and wise leadership are needed now more than ever, to steer through the kind of 'tinderbox' situations which are cropping up around the world with unwanted regularity.
David Hornsby, West View Avenue, Wrose
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