RAS MKOA WA IRINGA AZITAKA KAMATI ZA SHULE KUSIMAMIA MAENDELEO YA SHULE

Katibu Tawala Mkoa wa Iringa, Wamoja Ayubu akizungumza na wajumbe wa kamati za shule kutoka shule za serikali wakati akifunga mafunzo ya kuzijengea uwezo kamati za shule yafanyika kimkoa katika Kata ya Makungu, Wilaya ya Mufindi, mkoani Iringa jana. (Picha na Friday Simbaya)

Katibu Tawala Mkoa wa Iringa, Wamoja Ayubu akifuatilia risala kutoka kaimu afisa elimu taaluma (msingi) wa wilaya ya mufindi, Onesmo Kikoti (hayupo pichani) kabla ya kufunga mafunzo ya kuzijengea uwezo kamati za shule yafanyika kimkoa katika Kata ya Makungu, Wilaya ya Mufindi, mkoani Iringa jana. (Picha na Friday Simbaya)

Kaimu Ofisa Elimu Mkoa wa Iringa, Nasibu Mengele (kulia) akitoa utambulisho kwa wajumbe wa kamati za shule kutoka shule za serikali wakati wa ufungaji wa mafunzo ya kuzijengea uwezo kamati hizo yaliyofanyika kimkoa katika Kata ya Makungu, Wilaya ya Mufindi, mkoani Iringa jana. Kulia kwake ni Katibu Tawala Mkoa wa Iringa, Wamoja Ayubu, Afisa Elimu ya Wazima- Mufindi, Faustine Mhapa, Afisa Mtendaji wa kata ya Makungu, Markus Makweta na Afisa Habari wa Mkoa Dennis Gondwe. (Picha na Friday Simbaya)

Kaimu Afisa Elimu Taaluma (msingi) Wilaya ya Mufindi, mkoani Iringa, akitoa utangulizi kwa Katibu Tawala Mkoa wa Iringa, Wamoja kabla ya kufunga mafunzo ya kuzijengea uwezo kamati za shule yafanyika kimkoa katika Kata ya Makungu, Wilaya ya Mufindi, mkoani Iringa jana. (Picha na Friday Simbaya)

Baadhi ya wajumbe wa kamati za shule kutoka shule za serikali wakifuatilia hotuba ya mgeni rasmi ambaye ni Katibu Tawala Mkoa wa Iringa, Wamoja Ayubu (hayupo picha) wakati akifunga mafunzo ya kuzijengea uwezo kamati za shule yafanyika kimkoa katika Kata ya Makungu, Wilaya ya Mufindi, mkoani Iringa jana. (Picha na Friday Simbaya)

Na Friday Simbaya, Mufindi

Maendeleo ya Taifa lolote yanategemea kwa kiasi kikubwa ubora wa elimu ya watu wake. 

Mahitaji ya utoaji elimu bora na usimamizi unahitaji uwajibikaji wa karibu kutoka ngazi ya taifa, mkoa, halmashauri na serikali ya kijiji/mtaa.

Hayo yalisema jana na Katibu Tawala Mkoa wa Iringa (RAS), Wamoja Ayubu wakati akifunga mafunzo ya wajumbe wa kamati za shule kimkoa katika Kata ya Makungu wilayani Mufindi, mkoani Iringa.

Mafunzo kwa wajumbe wa kamati za shule za msingi za serikali hayo yalianza tarehe 13/01/2017 katika Mkoa wa Iringa na kumalizika jana tarehe 07/02/2017.

RAS aliwataka wajumbe wa kamati hizo kusimamia kikamilifu shughuli zote za maendeleo ya shule za msingi.

Alisema kuwa kamati za shule ni chombo cha usimamizi, uendeshaji na uongozi wa shule ambacho kinasimamia shughuli zote za shule kwa niaba ya wenye shule.

Alisema kuwa mafunzo hayo yamekuja wakati muafaka kwa sababu kumekuwa na changamoto nyingi katika sekta ya elimu, hasa katika uendeshaji wa shughuli za maendeleo shuleni.

RAS huyo pia alitumia fursa kuwapongeza kwa matokeo mazuri ya kidato cha nne mwaka 2016, kwa mkoa kushika nafasi ya pili (2) kitaifa.

“Haya ni mafanikio makubwa kwa sababu mwaka 2015 Mkoa wa Iringa ulishika nafasi ya tano (5) kitaifa,” alisema Ayubu.

Aliongeza kuwa lengo la kuundwa kwa kamati za shule ni kukuza dhana ya uongozi na ushirikishaji ili kuleta ufanisi katika uendeshaji wa shule kwa ujumla.

Naye, Kaimu Ofisa Elimu Mkoa wa Iringa, Nasibu Mengele alisema kuwa elimu msingi ni kiungo muhimu cha kuandaa wataalam mbalimbali ambacho mchango wa ni mkubwa katika kuendeleza uchumi, sayansi na teknolojia katika jamii na maisha bora kwa watanzania.

Alisema kuwa ili kufikia malengo tarajiwa ni vizuri wajumbe wa kamati za shule wakatambua masuala mbalimbali na kupata stadi mahiri za uongozi na usimamizi wa shule, ili ziweze kutoa elimu bora kwa watoto wote nchini.

“Kamati ya shule imepewa uwezo kisheria chini ya ibara ya 3 ya kifungu cha 39 cha Sheria ya Elimu Na. 25 ya mwaka 1978, na marekebisho yake ya mwaka 1995,” alisema Mengele.

Alisema kuwa kifungu hicho kinataka kuundwa kwa kamati ya shule kwa kila shule ya awali na msingi ambayo itakuwa na jukumu la kusimamia uendeshaji wa shule husika.

Mafunzo hayo kwa wajumbe wa kamati za shule za serikali walikuwa na mada kuu nne zilizotelewa kwao.

1. Uongozi,mundo wa majukumu ya kamati za shule.

2. Usimamizi wa sera na sheria za uendeshaji wa elimu.

3. Usimamizi wa rasilimali za shule.

4. Uandaji wa mpango wa jumla wa maendeleo ya shule.

Mafunzo hayo ambayo yalifanyika katika kila halmashauri yalihudhuriwa na jumla ya washiriki 5,750 (wanaume 3,470 na wanawake 2,280) kutoka shule zote za serikali zilizopo katika Mkoa wa Iringa.

Aidha, kwa Halmashauri ya Wilaya ya Mufindi, jumla ya washirika 1,792 walipaswa kushiriki (wanawake 701 na wanaume 1,091), lakini waliyofanyikiwa kushiriki mafunzo hayonni washiriki 1,642.

Mwisho

DC WASHUKIA VIJANA WANAOCHEZA KAMARI ‘KUBETI’

DC KASESELA

Mkuu wa Wilaya ya Iringa, Richard Kasesela amewata vijana nchini kuachana na tabia ya kucheza kamari yaani ‘kubeti’ kwa kutabiri mambo kadhaa.

Hapa Tanzania mchezo maarufu ni soka, hivyo mashabiki wa mchezo huo utabiri mambo kadhaa katika mchezo husika, ikiwemo wafungaji wa magoli, idadi ya magoli kwenye mechi husika, magoli yakufungwa kipindi kipi cha mchezo na ukuisha matokeo yatakuwaje.

Kasesela alisema kuwa vijana watakiwa kujishughulisha na shughuli za kiuchumi na kuachana mazoea kutengenza pesa kwa njia mikato kama kucheza kamari.

Akizungumza wakati wa kufunga mashindano ya Kombe la J.Msofu na kukabidhi zawadi kwa mshindi wa kwanza na wa pili, Kasesela alizipongeza timu hizo kwa kucheza mchezo mzuri huku akiwataka wachezaji kucheza mpira kwa kuwa mpira ni ajira.

Timu ya Itengulinyi FC iliyopo kwenye kata ya Maboga ilitwaa ubingwa baada yakuichakaza timu ya Kiponzelo FC kwa mabao 4-3 kwa mikwaju ya penalti kwenye mashindano ya kombe la Msofu Cup yaliyomalizika hivi karibuni.

Mechi hiyo ya fainali kati ya timu hizo mbili uliyochezwa katika uwanja wa shule ya sekondari kiponzelo, kata ya maboga na tarafa ya kipozelo, wilayani Iringa.

Mechi hiyo ya fainali kati ya timu hizo mbili uliyochezwa katika uwanja wa shule ya sekondari kiponzelo, kata ya maboga na tarafa ya kipozelo, wilayani Iringa.

Kwa upande wake, mdhamini wa mashindano hayo Jeremia Msofu alisema kuwa lengo la mashidano hayo nikuibua vipaji vitakavyoweza kuunda timu ya Jimbo la Kalenga, itakayoweza kucheza kuanzia Ligi ya daraja la nne la hadi Ligi Kuu ya Vodacom Tanzania bara.

Mashindano hayo yalianza rasmi decemba 11 mwaka jana na kumalizika Februari 5 mwaka 2017.

Akizungumza wakati wa kukabidhi zawadi kwa mshindi wa kwanza na wa pili mkuu wa wilaya ya Iringa Richard Kasesela alizipongeza timu hizo kwa kucheza mchezo mzuri huku akiwataka wachezaji kucheza mpira kwa kuwa mpira ni ajira.

Mshindi wa kwanza alizawadiwa ng’ombe mmoja mwenye thamani ya 500,000 na mshindi wa pili mbuzi wawili wenye thamani ya 150,000/-.

Hata Golikipa bora katika mashindano hayo Adam Jaffari alizawadiwa fedha taslim 50,000/-, mfungaji bora akizawadiwa 50,000/- huku timu yenye nidhamu katika mashindano hayo yaani Usengelindete ikiondoka na zawadi ya 50,000/-.

Mashindano hayo yalizinduliwa rasmi na Katibu wa Chama cha Mpira Iringa Vijijini ,Juma Lalika, ambaye pia ni mjumbe wa kamati ya uchaguzi wa Chama cha Mpira Tanzania (TFF).

MWISHO

MFUMUKO WA BEI WA MWEZI JANUARI 2017 UMEONGEZEKA KWA ASILIMIA 0.8

Mkurugenzi wa Sensa na Takwimu za Jamii wa Ofisi ya Taifa ya Takwimu (NBS), Ephraim Kwesigabo, akizungumza katika mkutano na waandishi wa habari wakati akitoa taarifa kuhusu mfumuko wa bei wa mwezi Januari 2017 jijini Dar es Salaam leo. Kulia ni Meneja Idara ya Takwimu za Ajira na Bei, Ruth Minja.

Waandishi wa habari wakichukua taarifa hiyo.

Wanahabari wakiwa kazini.

Mkutano na wanahabari ukiendelea.

Na Dotto Mwaibale

MFUMUKO wa Bei wa mwezi Januari 2017 unaopimwa kwa kipimo cha mwezi umeongezeka kwa asilimia 0.8 ikilinganishwa na ongezeko la asilimia 0.7 ilivyokuwa mwezi Desemba 2016.

Hayo yamebainishwa na Mkurugenzi wa Sensa na Takwimu za Jamii wa Ofisi ya Taifa ya Takwimu (NBS) wakati akitoa taarifa hiyo kwa waandishi wa habari jijini Dar es Salaam leo.

"Fahirisi za bei zimeongezeka hadi 105.92 mwezi Januari 2017 kutoka 1-05.04 mwezi Desemba 2016" alisema Kwesigabo.

Alisema kuongeza kwa fahirisi za bei kumechangiwa na kuongezeka kwa bei za baadhi ya bidhaa za vyakula na bidhaa zisizo za vyakula.

Alitaja baadhi za vyakula zilizochangia kuongezeka kwa fahirisi ni pamoja na mahindi kwa asilimia 6.3, ndizi za kupika kwa asilimia 5.8, magimbi kwa asilimia 5.3 na viazi vitamu kwa asilimia 6.5.

Alisema kwa upande mwingine baadhi ya bidhaa zisizo za vyakula zilichochangia kuongezeka kwa fahirisi ni pamoja na mkaa kwa asilimia 3.2 na majokofu kwa asilimia 2.4.

Kwesigabo alisema thamani ya shilingi ya Tanzania hupima badiliko la uwezo wa shilingi ya Tanzania katika kununua bidhaa na huduma zilezile za mlaji ambazo shilingi ya Tanzania ingeweza kununua katikavipindi tofauti.

"Ikiwa fahirisi za bei za Taifa zinaongezeka, uwezo wa shilingi ya Tanzania katika kununua bidhaa na huduma hupungua" alisema Kwesigabo.

Alisema uwezo wa shilingi 100 ya Tanzania katika kununua bidhaa na huduma umefikia shilingi 94 na senti 42 mwezi Januari, 2017 ikilinganisha na shilingi 95 na senti 20 ilivyokuewa mwezi Desemba 2016.

RAS URGES SCHOOL COMMITTES TO BE VIGILANT ON SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

By Friday Simbaya, Mufindi

Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Wamoja Ayubu says development of any nation depends largely on the quality of education of its people.

She said demand for better education provision and management need immediate responsibility from the national, regional, local councils and village government / local level.

RAS made the statement yesterday when officially closing training to the school committee members which was held regionally at Makungu Ward in Mufindi district, Iringa region.

The capacity building training for members of school committees of the government primary schools started on 13.01.2017 in Iringa Region and yesterday ended on 02/07/2017.

RAS urged the committee members to fully manage all operations of the development of primary schools in the respective areas.

She said that the school committee is a tool of management, operation and administration of the school which manages all activities of the school on behalf of the school owners.

She said that the training has comes at a time because there have been many challenges in the education sector, especially in the conduct of development activities at school.

RAS also used the opportunity to commend the members of school committees for outright performance of Form Four results in 2016, to finish second (2) nationally.

"This is a great success because Iringa Region in 2015 was held a fifth (5) position nationally," said Ayubu.

She added that the aim of the creation of school committees is to promote the concept of leadership and participation in order to improve the operation of the school in general.

On his part, the Acting Chief Education for Iringa Region, Nasibu Mengele said that basic education is the essential ingredient to prepare various experts that is a great contribution in developing the economy, science and technology in society and a better life for Tanzanians.

He said that to achieve the desired results, it is well for school committee members to be aware of the various issues and gain leadership skills and competent management of the school, so that they can provide a better education for all children in the country.

"School Committee legally empowered under paragraph 3 of section 39 of the Education Act No. 25 of 1978, and its amendment of 1995, "said Mengele.

He said that the clause urging the creation of a school committee for all nursery school and primary which will be responsible for overseeing the operation of the respective schools.

The training for school committee members of the government schools had four main topics that were presented them.

1. Leadership hierarchy and the role of the school committee.

2. Management of policies and operating rules of education.

3. Management of school resources.

4. Organizing of the general plan of development of the school.

The training that took place in each council was attended by a total of 5,750 participants (3,470 men and 2,280 women) from all government schools in Iringa Region.

WAZIRI WA FEDHA AFUNGUA MKUTANO WA KIMATAIFA WA KUJADILI MATUMIZI YA TAKWIMU ZA UMASKINI

Waziri wa Fedha na Mipango, Dk. Philip Mpango akihutubia wakati akifungua mkutano wa kimataifa wa kujadili matumizi ya takwimu za umaskini na namna bora ya kupima hali ya umaskini Afrika jijini Dar es Salaam leo.

Mkurugenzi Mkuu Ofisi ya Taifa ya Takwimu (NBS), Dk.Albina Chuwa akitoa hutuba yake.

Balozi wa Umoja wa Ulaya Kanda ya Afrika Mashariki, Roland Van De Geer, akitsoma hutuba yake.

Mkurugenzi Mkazi wa Benki ya Dunia, Bella Bird akizungumza kwenye mkutano huo.

Mtafiti kutoka Taasisi ya Repoa, Dk.Blandina Kilama, akizungumza kwenye mkutano huo.

Mtakwimu kutoka Menejimenti Ofisi ya Mtakwimu Mkuu Tanzania Zanzibar, Mayasa Mwinyi akizungumza kwenye mkutano huo.

Taswira ya meza kuu.

Mkutano ukiendelea.

Taswira katika mkutano huo. 

Na Dotto Mwaibale

MATUMIZI ya Takwimu rasmi katika kupanga maendeleo ya wananchi kwa nchi zinazoendelea yamekuwa hayaendi kwa kasi inayotakiwa kimataifa imefahamika.

Hayo yameelezwa na Mkurugenzi Mkuu Ofisi ya Taifa ya Takwimu (NBS), Dk.Albina Chuwa Dar es Salaam leo wakati akisoma hutuba yake katika ufunguzi wa mkutano wa kimataifa wa kujadili matumizi ya takwimu za umaskini na namna bora ya kupima hali ya umaskini Afrika.

Alisema wakati dunia ikiendelea na utekelezaji wa malengo endelevu ya maendeleo ya dunia ya mwaka 2030 yapatayo 17, shabaha 169 na viashiria 231 ni dhahiri kuwa matumizi ya takwimu rasmi katika kufuatilia na kutathmini utekelezaji wake kila nchi haina budi kuyafanyia kazi ipasavyo.

"Kutokana na hali hiyo ndiyo maana Benki ya Dunia ikishirikiana na Wizara ya Fedha na Mipango, Ofisi ya Taifa ya Takwimu imeona umuhimu wa kuwa na mkutano huu wa kimataifa wa kukutanisha watakwimu, wachumi na fani nyingine za kitaalam kujadili kwa kina matumizi ya takwimu za hali ya umaskini na tafsiri yake kwa ujumla na nini kifanyike ili kuboresha zaidi tafsiri ya umaskini" alisema Dk. Chuwa.

Katika hatua nyingine Dk.Chuwa alitoa angalizo kwa kuwaomba wadau wote wa ndani na nje ya nchi kuwa takwimu za hali ya umaskini pamoja na utafiti wa mapato na matumizi ya Kaya nchini zinatolewa na serikali hivyo zisitumike vibaya kuichafua nchi kuhusu hali ya umaskini.

Alisema iwapo itatokea kuwepo kwa matumizi mabaya sheria ya takwimu ya mwaka 2015 pamoja na kanuni zake tayari zimesainiwa zitachukua mkondo wake. 

Alisema Takwimu zitumike kwa lengo la kuleta maendeleo ya kweli kwa wananchi maskini wa Tanzania na kwa nchi zinazoendelea hususan kwa nchi zilizoko Kusini mwa Bara la Afrika.

Mgeni rasmi wa mkutano huo wa siku mbili ambao umeandaliwa na Benki ya Dunia, Waziri wa Fedha na Mipango Dk.Philip Mpango alisema ilikuweza kujenga Afrika lenye neema nilazima kuhakikisha kuwa bara hili linaondokana na umaskini na kuwataka wataalamu waliohudhuria mkutano huo kutunganjia bora ya kupima umaskini.

Alisema ili kuendana na kasi ya dunia na utekelezaji wa malengo endelevu ya maendeleo ya mwaka 2030 yapatayo 17 ni wazi ufanyaji takwimu na utafiti unapaswa kufanyika ili kujua kiwango cha umaskini lakini pia aina ya umaskini uliopo.

Floods and erosion are ruining Britain’s most significant sites

From Wordsworth’s gardens to the south’s white cliffs and salmon rivers in Wales, climate change is wrecking historic sites, finds report

Cottages at Birling Gap were once one of seven properties. The fifth end-of-terrace pebble-dash terrace was demolished in March 2014. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Damian Carrington

Climate change is already wrecking some of Britain’s most significant sites, from Wordsworth’s gardens in Cumbria to the white cliffs on England’s south coast, according to a new report.

Floods and erosion are damaging historic places, while warmer temperatures are seeing salmon vanishing from famous rivers and birds no longer visiting important wetlands.

The report was produced by climate experts at Leeds University and the Climate Coalition, a group of 130 organisations including the RSPB, National Trust, WWF and the Women’s Institute.

“Climate change often seems like a distant existential threat [but] this report shows it is already impacting upon some of our most treasured and special places around the UK,” said Prof Piers Forster of Leeds University.

Study reveals huge acceleration in erosion of England's white cliffs

Read more

“It is clear our winters are generally getting warmer and wetter, storms are increasing in intensity and rainfall is becoming heavier. Climate change is not only coming home – it has arrived,” Forster said. It is also already affecting everyday places such as churches, sports grounds, farms and beaches, he said.

Wordsworth House and Garden in Cockermouth, where the romantic poet William Wordsworth was born in 1770 and learned his love of nature, was seriously damaged by two recent flooding events linked to a changing climate.

In November 2009, torrential rain caused £500,000 of damage, sweeping away gates and walls that had survived since the 1690s. Floods inundated the site again during Storm Desmond in December 2015. “When I saw the damage the floods had caused in 2009 I was shocked and it took almost three years to repair the garden,” said the house’s head gardener, Amanda Thackeray. “Then after all that hard work to see the devastation from flooding in 2015 was very upsetting.”William Wordsworth’s gardens in Cockermouth, Cumbria, before and after the 2015 floods.

Flooding: 'Up here in the north-east, we’re just forgotten about'

Read more

A century-long record shows the UK is experiencing more intense heavy rainfall during winter. Researchers can also use climate models to reveal the influence of global warming on some extreme events and have found the UK’s record December rainfall in 2015 was made 50-75% more likely by climate change. Another study found Storm Desmond was 40% more likely to have occurred because of the human activities that release greenhouse gases, such as burning fossil fuels.

Birling Gap is part of the world famous Seven Sisters chalk cliffs on England’s south coast and over the last 50 years, about 67cm of cliff is eroded each year. But during the winter storms of 2013-2014, the equivalent of seven years of erosion occurred in just two months.

“The succession of storms provided a stark warning that coastal ‘defence’ as the only response to managing coastal change looks increasingly less plausible,” said Phil Dyke, coastal adviser at the National Trust. “We must learn how to adapt.”

Existing buildings at Birling Gap are being lost and new buildings will be designed to be easier to move back as the cliff disappears. Scientists know that climate change is driving up sea levels and increasing the likelihood of more intense storms, meaning the rate of erosion is likely to rise.

FacebookTwitterPinterest Cracks have appeared in Birling Gap chalk cliffs in East Sussex due to erosion. Photograph: Peter Cripps/Alamy Stock Photo

Rising temperatures are also affecting wildlife, including in the famous salmon rivers, the Wye and Usk, where otters and kingfishers also live. December is peak spawning time for salmon in Wales, but recent winters have been exceptionally warm.

“After eliminating other potential causes such as disease and lack of adults, we have come to the conclusion that the exceptionally high water temperatures of November and December 2016 are the reason for the disastrous salmon fry numbers this year,” said Simon Evans, chief executive of the Wye & Usk Foundation.

Landmark sites in the US at risk from climate change – in pictures

View gallery

2015 was little better, with young salmon found at just 17 sites out of 142, when they usually would be expected at 108 areas. Research has shown salmon populations across the Wye catchment fell by 50% from 1985-2004, despite cuts in water pollution. But stream temperatures have risen by up to 1C in that time, leaving researchers to conclude that climate change is a key factor in plummeting salmon numbers.

Slimbridge wetlands in Gloucestershire is one of the UK’s most important bird sites, hosting 200 species from all over the world, but is also seeing changes as the climate warms. Numbers of migratory white-fronted geese have fallen by 98% in the last 30 years due to warmer weather further north.

Geoff Hilton, at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust said the shrinking flocks could have knock-on effects on the wetland habitat: “These are quite big changes ecologically. If you suddenly lose thousands of geese from a wetland, there are bound to be big effects on that wetland.”

FacebookTwitterPinterest Numbers of migratory white-fronted geese have fallen 98% in the last 30 years due to climate change. Photograph: David Hoggett/Alamy Stock Photo

Warmer conditions have also meant water primrose, an alien invader to the UK, has grown aggressively in wide, dense mats and is seriously damaging native plants and fish. However, warmer winters have seen little egret numbers visiting Slimbridge increasing from just eight in the 1990s to 30 in 2013.

Other sites being ruined by climate change, according to the new report, include a famous riverside pub on Manchester’s river Irwell, the Mark Addy, which has not re-opened after the 2015 winter floods and the historic clubhouse at Corbridgecricket club in Northumberland, now demolished after the same floods.

The report also warns that the 5,000-year-old neolithic village at Skara Brae on Orkney, revealed after a great storm in 1850 stripped away grass and sand, could be destroyed in future as violent storms become more common.

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Up to 13,000 secretly hanged in Syrian jail, says Amnesty

Thousands of other opponents of Assad died from torture and starvation at Saydnaya prison, witness reports suggest

An aerial view of Saydnaya prison. Photograph: Amnesty

Martin Chulov

Tuesday 7 February 2017 00.01 GMTLast modified on Tuesday 7 February 2017 01.12 GMT

As many as 13,000 opponents of Bashar al-Assad were secretly hanged in one of Syria’s most infamous prisons in the first five years of the country’s civil war as part of an extermination policy ordered by the highest levels of the Syrian government, according to Amnesty International.

Many thousands more people held in Saydnaya prison died through torture and starvation, Amnesty said, and the bodies were dumped in two mass graves on the outskirts of Damascus between midnight and dawn most Tuesday mornings for at least five years.

The report, Human Slaughterhouse, details allegations of state-sanctioned abuse that are unprecedented in Syria’s civil war, a conflict that has consistently broken new ground in depravity, leaving at least 400,000 people dead and nearly half the country’s population displaced.

'The worst place on earth': inside Assad's brutal Saydnaya prison

Read more

It suggests thousands more people could have been hanged in Saydnaya since the end of 2015, after which former guards and detainees who spoke to Amnesty no longer had access to verifiable information from inside the prison.

Among the 84 people interviewed were four former guards at two key buildings, a “red building” in which civilian detainees were held and a “white building” that held former military members and where hangings were carried out in the basement. More than 12 months of research focused on 31 men who were held in both buildings. A military judge was also interviewed.

The witnesses claimed that once or twice a week 20 to 50 people at a time were hanged after sham trials before a military court. Their bodies were taken to the nearby Tishreen military hospital where a cause of death was typically registered as a respiratory disorder or heart failure. They were buried on military land in Nahja, south of Damascus, and Qatana, a small town to the west.

The report’s author, Nicolette Waldman, said the estimate of the number of people hanged ranged from a minimum of 5,000 to a maximum of 13,000.

“There is no reason at all to expect that the hangings have stopped. We believe it is very likely that the executions are going on to this day and that many thousands more people have been killed,” she said.

“They came for them on a Monday. Before they were hanged, victims were condemned to death in a two- to three-minute hearing. The death sentence was signed by the minister of defence, who was deputised to sign by President Assad. It is inconceivable that all of the top officials did not know about it. This was a policy of extermination.”Saydnaya prison locator

Waldman said the hanging victims were separate to claims of the systematic killing of more than 11,000 detainees in Syria from March 2011 until August 2013, which were documented by a photographer codenamed Caesar who worked for the Syrian military police.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed last May that at least 60,000 people had died as a result of torture or dire conditions in Syrian prisons from the earliest months of the anti-Assad insurrection.

Since then, Syria has been gradually torn apart. The initial uprising was met with a brutal crackdown and mass detentions, and by late 2011 it had started to transform into an armed insurgency that aimed to topple the four-decade Assad dynasty and its supporting state structure.

By mid-2012 the uprising had been joined by jihadists from outside Syria, who blended with hundreds of hardcore Islamists freed from Syrian prisons who had begun to splinter the opposition. All the while, mass arrests and detentions accelerated, as did an exodus of civilians from most parts of the country.

The war soon sparked the biggest refugee crisis anywhere since the end of the second world war. Mass immigration has since been a focal point of political discourse in Europe and the US, feeding the rise of populism and nationalistic leaders such as Donald Trump, whose travel ban prevented Syrians, among others, from entering the US, until the order was overturned by a federal judge on Friday.

Amnesty said non-state armed groups had also carried out serious human rights abuses against detainees. It singled out the al-Qaida-inspired Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic State as perpetrators of war crimes. But it said the “vast majority of detention-related violations since 2011 have been carried out by Syrian authorities”.

Witnesses to the killings in Saydnaya described a methodical routine in which those about to be hung were collected from their cell block in the red building in the afternoon and told they were to be transferred to another prison. They were instead taken to the basement of the white building, several hundred metres away, and repeatedly beaten. They were taken before a military judge and condemned, before being hanged between midnight and 3am.

“Some of them initially did not know what the sounds were,” said Waldman. “It is such a dehumanising and horrible experience in prison already.”

Amnesty said its witnesses had detailed each step of the process, with some giving graphic accounts of having heard the hangings being carried out in the room beneath them. The organisation said it had sought a response to its allegations from Syrian officials in mid-January but received no reply. Amnesty researchers are barred from entering Syria.

“What we have uncovered is beyond anything else we have seen,” said Waldman. “This demands a new kind of response. These practices have to stop. It is one more step of diabolical intent by the Syrian authorities.”