The local council in the city of Muadamiya
Civilians in the city of Muadamiya have been suffering from a tight siege imposed by Assad’s regime for more than ten months.This blockade has led to almost complete loss in medical support and humanitarian essentials within the city including baby milk.
In addition medical and humanitarian organisations such as the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders (RSF) are non-existent in the city as prevented from entry by Assad’s forces and allied militia.

Alarmingly, this long-imposedblockade has led to severe shortage in food and medicines which resulted in many cases of advanced malnutrition, anaemia and renal failure among innocent civilians, especially children, the sick and the elderly. More seriously, the blockade directly caused six confirmed cases of deaths:

1 - Ammar Arafa:
A child who died on 31st August 2013 aged eight years as a result of severe malnutrition. Ammar was a child with special needs who relied mainly on the formula milk PediaSure. His health deteriorated dramatically five months into the siege due to the absence of hisneurological medications and formula milk.

2 - Ibrahim Khalil:
An infant dies aged 4 years on 31st August 2013. Ibrahim had suffered of severe malnutrition which reached the stage of marasmus. Doctors believe this was caused by the lack of nutrients and feeding on poor quality food when available.

3 - Imad Sawan:
A five year old infant who passed away on 4th September 2013.The little body of Imad sustained direct injury from the shelling of the city of Muadamiya which necessitates a laparotomy and bowel resection. Imad made a poor recovery from his operation given the absence of medicines (such as albumin and TPN) and nutrient-rich drinks which doctors think are important for recovery after such a major operation. Imad’s health deteriorated and he painfully developed to marasmus and then death.

4 - Mona Ragab:
Mona died on 4th September 2013 aged 30 years. Mona was received injuries to her abdomen and limbs when her house was destroyed with one of the fighter jet strikes on the town. She needed several operations on her damaged bowels and broken bones; however her recovery was complicated again with the lack of medicines and suitable feed. Doctors believe Mona was effectively killed by Assad’s siege of the city of Muadamiya.

5 - Maryam Fadlallah:
A 50 year old lady who suffered with diabetes. On 12th September 2013 Maryam sustained a diabetic coma as result of the lack of medications such as insulin and diabetes tablets. Her coma was proven difficult to deal with since no diagnostic kits were available and she died as a result since also emergency drugs such as insulin and dextrose were not available. Doctors believe Maryam’ diabetes would have not reached such a severe complication and she would have not have to die if it was not to the criminal blockade imposed by Assad’s regime on the town of Muadamiya.

6 - Rana Obaid:
At the age of only 13 months Rana died on 23rd September 2013 due to severe malnutrition reaching marasmus. Rana’s mother could not feed her as she was malnourished herself and there was no alternative feed to support her little body.

Clearly the situation of 12 hundred civilians trapped in the city of Muadamiya is increasingly becoming more and more desperate. The cases above are early examples of what things are developing subsequent to denying the people of Muadamiya access to food and medical help.

These actions of Assad’s regime violate the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; which clearly prohibits using starvation as a method of warfare, as well as it prohibits destroying, moving away or denying access to resources essential for survival such as medical care.

It is a high time that the international community rise up to their responsibility to prevent what will be of the largest massacres in history if nothing is done. We demand responsible officials to exert all necessary pressure on Assad’s regime to allow food and medicines into the city of Muadamiya before it is too late.

The local council in the city of Muadamiya
28th September 2013
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الفيديوهات (videos)
1- عمار عرفة ( Ammar Arafa )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=em5vhJcnFes

2- ابراهيم خليل ( Ibrahim Khalil )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2BcjatF-ao

3- عماد صوان ( Imad Sawan )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6yOUyJsLo0

4- منى رجب ( Mona Ragab )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLpQXD5kcgw

5- مريم فضل الله ( Maryam Fadlallah )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkYr5kvzAtI

6- رنا عبيد ( Rana Obaid ) 
https://youtu.be/w_TpZ38FjIU