Recent reports indicate that in the Sunni-majority city of Madaya, which has been under siege by the forces of Bashar al-Assad and Hezbollah since summer, five more people died of hunger last week and "dozens" more are facing the risk of death. According to a Reuters report citing a United Nations report, in Madaya, located 24 kilometers northwest of Damascus, the famine situation is such that currently each piece of biscuit is sold for $15 and each kilogram of milk for children is priced at $313. The UN report states that the people of Madaya, with a population of 42,000, are facing severe famine due to the aforementioned siege, and in the past month, 32 cases of death due to starvation have been reported in this city. This is despite the fact that the UN sent two emergency aid convoys to Madaya last week. The UN report notes that dozens of people in the outskirts of Madaya need immediate medical care, but UN and Syrian Red Crescent workers have only managed to evacuate 10 of them from the area. Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, condemned the use of "hunger" as a weapon in Syria on Thursday, stating that the warring parties in Syria, especially Bashar al-Assad, are committing "cruel acts" against citizens. The UN states that in various parts of Syria, 15 areas are besieged by government forces, ISIS, or other groups, with about 450,000 people trapped in these areas. The UN had requested the Syrian government seven times in 2015 to allow aid to be sent to Madaya and, after repeated requests, was able to obtain limited permission for humanitarian assistance to this city in some cases. The report indicates that aid workers who entered the city last week say that government forces have been laying mines around the city since September to prevent people from escaping the siege. The report adds that even this mining has not stopped the starving people from searching for food around the city, and many individuals have encountered landmine explosions, losing their limbs. Additionally, the UN report notes that there are numerous psychological disorders observed in the children of this city, and cases of sexual abuse of women at checkpoints have also been reported.
City Under Siege by Assad's Army; Price of Milk for Children is $313!
The city of Madaya is suffering from extreme famine due to a siege by Assad's forces and Hezbollah, with reports of deaths from starvation and exorbitant prices for basic food items. The UN has condemned the use of hunger as a weapon and highlighted the dire humanitarian situation affecting thousands. This situation underscores the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria and the challenges faced by aid organizations.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The city of Madaya is experiencing severe famine due to a prolonged siege by Assad's forces and Hezbollah, leading to multiple deaths from starvation and exorbitant food prices. Despite UN efforts to provide aid, the humanitarian situation remains dire.
- Five more people died of hunger last week in Madaya.
- A kilogram of milk for children is priced at $313.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Syrian civil war has led to widespread destruction and humanitarian crises, with many areas under siege by various factions, including government forces and ISIS.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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