Satellite images show ruined deserted Homs

Government forces continued shelling of the Syrian city of Homs has left some neighbourhoods unrecognisable.

Satellite images taken this March reveal a deserted city centre, destroyed areas and heavy deployment of tanks across the city.

This stands in contrast to images shot in August, which showed a busy city of around one million.

The latest imagery, commissioned by Al Jazeera, provides a snapshot of what appears to be an increasingly dire situation.

UN observers have asked to be allowed into Homs to provide an assessment, but the government has so far refused to give them access.

Al Jazeera’s Steve Chao reports.