United Nations, Jan 12: The UN said Monday the situation in Madaya was desperate with hundreds of people in need of immediate evacuation. The same day aid trucks carrying food and medical supplies arrived in the blockaded Syrian town.
UN ambassadors met at a closed-door meeting to discuss the situation. According to US Ambassador Samantha Power over 400 people “are on the brink of death and in need of immediate medical evacuation:”
The UN has reportedly appealed to the regime of embattled Syrian President Bashar al Assad to allow for their evacuation.
A convoy of aid trucks arrived in Madaya, Foua and Kfarya on Monday to deliver much-needed supplies like infant formula, blankets and medicine to the desperate people. Yet Power emphasized that more had to be done.
Forty-four trucks entered Madaya carrying one month’s worth of food for over 40,000 people. The town has been under siege by Assad’s forces for half a year.
“It’s really heartbreaking to see the situation of the people,” said Red Cross spokesman Pawel Krzysiek. He said a little girl approached him upon his arrival and asked, “Did you bring food?”
The situation has been so desperate that the people have been forced to live off grass and water. There were even reports of hungry people killing and eating cats to stay alive.
