The Syrian government said on Thursday it will allow international humanitarian assistance into besieged towns in western and northwest Syria amid reports that people are starving to death, according to Global News
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said at least 10 people have died in Madaya from a lack of food and medicine. Madaya is a town of some 42,000 near the Lebanon border in the Damascas province, which has been held under siege by forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad since July.
Madaya resident Abu Abdul Rahman told Al Jazeera by phone he had not eaten for four days. "There are no more cats or dogs alive in the town. Even tree leaves that we have been eating have become scarce," he said, according to Al Jazeera.
Pawel Krzysiek, a spokesman for the Red Cross in Damascus, told the DPA news agency, "We have seen credible reports that people are starving ... People are hungry and it is very cold out there with no electricity or fuel," according to Al Jazeera.
"The UN welcomes today's approval from the Government of Syria to access Madaya, Fuaa and Kafraya and is preparing to deliver humanitarian assistance in the coming days," the UN said in a statement. The statement also said there were "credible reports of people dying from starvation" in Madaya, according to France 24.
While pro-regime forces have restricted access to Madaya, in northwestern Syria, Fuaa and Kafraya are surrounded by anti-government fighters. In September, the three towns were a part of a landmark six-month deal that called for increased humanitarian assistance in exchange for an end to hostilities.
The UN said that only 10 percent of its requested aid deliveries to besieged areas of Syria were approved and carried out over the past year, according to France 24.
