Residents of a Syrian suburb have written a letter to the world asking for help to save them from starvation and the threat of constant attack from the Assad regime. For nearly a year, they say, President Bashar Assads forces have blocked food and medical supplies, denied them electricity and fuel and pounded them with shells and artillery fire. Some 3,000 civilians fled to safety last month in a planned evacuation during a rare ceasefire, however, another attempt earlier this week collapsed as clashes forced hundreds of women and children gathered at a checkpoint to flee. It is estimated around 12,000 people are trapped in conditions that are becoming increasingly desperate. In an open letter circulated by the main Western-backed opposition group, the residents of Moadamiyeh write: Save us from death. Save us from the hell of Assads killing machine. For nearly one year, the city of Moadamiyeh has been under siege with no access to food, electricity, medicine, communications, and fuel. The Syrian National Coalition, the main umbrella group for the opposition, called on international organisations to establish a humanitarian corridor to allow food into the area. At the weekend, the United Nations humanitarian chief Valerie Amos called for an immediate pause in clashes to allow civilians to leave. Spokesman for Moadamiyeh council Qusai Zakarya confirmed that local residents had sent the letter to the opposition coalition asking for help. He said: We are heading toward a definite destiny: starvation. Please, we are begging you to enter and distribute food. Residents are living on boiled grape leaves and olives. Their plea came as Mr Assad said he saw no reason why he could not run for the 2014 presidential elections - after nearly three years of civil war. He said in an interview quoted by the al Mayadeen television station: Personally, I don’t see any obstacles to being nominated to run in the next presidential elections. Abir, 8, who lost 3 family members during recent violence in Syria, paints at a center run by activists, in eastern Ghouta, in Damascus The conflict has destroyed communities and left scores of children orphaned Mr Assad inherited power from his father in 2000 and was confirmed in an election in which he ran unopposed. He was re-elected in 2007. The conflict, which began with largely peaceful protests in March 2011, escalated into a civil war that has now claimed the lives of more than 100,000. On Monday the UN official leading the mission to destroy the country’s chemical weapon stocks arrived in Damascus. His arrival followed the death of a prominent army defector who became a rebel leader. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Yasser al Abboud was killed Monday during fighting in the town of Tafas in the southern province of Daraa. Al Abboud was among the first high-ranking Syrian army officials to defect and join therebels fighting to topple the Assad regime.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 22:55:16 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015