Syrian doctors have been caught on film executing wounded protesters in government-secured hospitals, an out-raged Syrian activist who called for military intervention claimed yesterday.

So many family and friends have been killed. It is easier to count those who remain

“Our greatest weapon is our camera,” Imad Abdallah said as he described the dire situation in his home country, where starving civilians are desperate for food, water and medical supplies.

Mr Abdallah, a member of the NGO Spring, is in Malta to thank the public for filling five containers with clothes and other supplies to be shipped next week via Egypt to Aqaba in Jordan, which is accommodating 80,000 fleeing Syrians.

The collection was coordinated by the General Workers’ Union with the help of the Civil Protection Department.

The regime in Syria is so corrupt that activists are having to “smuggle” goods across the border, including money so soldiers can be bribed into giving protestors food. Mr Abdallah emphasised the necessity of foreign assistance: “Those who have left Syria are called ‘guests’ and are not seen refugees.” While refugees are given legal rights such as access to medical aid, water and food, guests rely ­solely on donations from generous hosts or NGOs. This makes donations such as those collected by the GWU even more pertinent.

Supplies are being forcibly blocked within Syria itself, so ensuring civilians receive aid once they managed to escape to surrounding countries was essential. Mr Abdallah explained that the geographical location of Syria itself made it difficult for aid to be received, and NGOs were furthermore banned from entering the city of Homs.

“Besides killing civilians by bombing, President Assad wants to kill people by starvation,” he said.

Mr Abdallah spoke engagingly about his escape from Homs, but his voice faltered when asked about the family he had left behind. “So many family and friends have been killed. It’s easier to count those who remain,” he said quietly.

Activists are desperate for food, baby milk and even the most basic of medical supplies like thread to stitch up the injured.

“We need something organised and controlled by governments to halt the killing of children by machetes and the torture of civilians,” Mr Abdallah said.

However, the lack of intervention by the UN is significantly slowing progress within the region. Until this happens, the Syrian people must rely on generous donations such as those collected in Malta. GWU general secretary Tony Zarb thanked the Maltese for their kindness and said medicine will continue to be collected for future shipments.