Blockades have become common in the Syrian war, with the government forces holding rebel-held areas under siege for months to punish residents and break their will. It has been nearly impossible for humanitarian groups to access these areas and as a result, people are dying of starvation and disease. The latest example is the town of Madaya, near the border with Lebanon, which has become a focal issue for Bashar Al Assad’s opponents. Graphic images of death and starvation coming out of this besieged town shook the conscience of the world and President Assad was finally forced to let the aid groups in after huge international pressure. There are other besieged towns which tell the same tale of misery and starvation, like Foah and Kefraya. But Madaya, a town of 40,000 people northwest of the capital Damascus, is the worst hit, and has been under siege since July, cut off by forces of both the Syrian government and Hezbollah, its Lebanese ally. The CNN carried a heartrending story of children drinking soup made from leaves and water in this city, and food is unattainably expensive because the area is surrounded by mountains covered by snow, with nature turning hostile when they badly need aid.
Tales of such misery haven’t shaken the world leaders enough to push them into finding a quick solution to the Syrian crisis. Talks are being held, but with positions hardening on either side and alliances and allegiances shifting, nobody knows when a ceasefire or peace will finally happen. This is a war that has killed an estimated quarter of a million people in nearly five years, destroyed an entire country turning it into a breeding ground for Islamic State militants and created a refugee crisis that threw Europe into turmoil, but still there is no sense of urgency and fear. This war will go down in history as one worsened by the lethargy and indifference of the international community.
The United Nations hopes to convene talks between Damascus and the opposition on January 25 and there are signals that cause us concern. A new opposition group created to oversee peace negotiations is demanding that Assad’s forces halt the bombardment of civilian areas and the use of barrel bombs. This is a just demand, but is unlikely to be heeded.
Syria can be rescued only through the ouster of Assad, who has been singlehandedly responsible for the massacre of his own people. Any agreement that gives him a role in future government will not be acceptable to Syrians and a vast majority of the international community. The UN and other mediators are yet to find a formula that will be acceptable to both sides. This is a war that threatens to cause more misery and mayhem.
Blockades have become common in the Syrian war, with the government forces holding rebel-held areas under siege for months to punish residents and break their will. It has been nearly impossible for humanitarian groups to access these areas and as a result, people are dying of starvation and disease. The latest example is the town of Madaya, near the border with Lebanon, which has become a focal issue for Bashar Al Assad’s opponents. Graphic images of death and starvation coming out of this besieged town shook the conscience of the world and President Assad was finally forced to let the aid groups in after huge international pressure. There are other besieged towns which tell the same tale of misery and starvation, like Foah and Kefraya. But Madaya, a town of 40,000 people northwest of the capital Damascus, is the worst hit, and has been under siege since July, cut off by forces of both the Syrian government and Hezbollah, its Lebanese ally. The CNN carried a heartrending story of children drinking soup made from leaves and water in this city, and food is unattainably expensive because the area is surrounded by mountains covered by snow, with nature turning hostile when they badly need aid.
Tales of such misery haven’t shaken the world leaders enough to push them into finding a quick solution to the Syrian crisis. Talks are being held, but with positions hardening on either side and alliances and allegiances shifting, nobody knows when a ceasefire or peace will finally happen. This is a war that has killed an estimated quarter of a million people in nearly five years, destroyed an entire country turning it into a breeding ground for Islamic State militants and created a refugee crisis that threw Europe into turmoil, but still there is no sense of urgency and fear. This war will go down in history as one worsened by the lethargy and indifference of the international community.
The United Nations hopes to convene talks between Damascus and the opposition on January 25 and there are signals that cause us concern. A new opposition group created to oversee peace negotiations is demanding that Assad’s forces halt the bombardment of civilian areas and the use of barrel bombs. This is a just demand, but is unlikely to be heeded.
Syria can be rescued only through the ouster of Assad, who has been singlehandedly responsible for the massacre of his own people. Any agreement that gives him a role in future government will not be acceptable to Syrians and a vast majority of the international community. The UN and other mediators are yet to find a formula that will be acceptable to both sides. This is a war that threatens to cause more misery and mayhem.
