Syrian civilians in rebel held areas are not only facing air raids from regime forces, Russia and USA but they are also under siege which is resulting in food shortage. One of the victims of recent siege is Sehar who died on Sunday leaving her parents devastated.
Eastern Ghouta is under rebel controls from 2013 and in the last 4 years multiple government attacks failed to take control of the area where 400,000 civilians are living. The siege in 4 years has resulted in catastrophe where food is short, medication is difficult to find and there is no way to escape.
Infants and young children are the first victim of wars and the same happened in Ghouta where they are dying because of malnutrition. The picture of Sehar Difda has become the new face of oppression in Syria which resulted in deaths of around half million people.
1/2- Seher Difda, a Syrian baby, is seen in doctor’s arm as she goes through medical examinations due to malnutrition in de-conflict zone of Eastern Ghouta of Damascus, Syria on October 21, 2017. Baby Seher died after taken a photo of her. pic.twitter.com/i8xJPrxcIm
— Eliane Alhussein (@ElianeAlhussein) October 22, 2017
Sehar Difda was just one month old but because of malnutrition she failed to live more. When these pictures were taken by AFP photographer the baby was so weak that it was unable to cry.
According to the teams of doctor there are thousands of such children in Eastern Ghouta. Lack of food makes the mother weak and unable to properly feed their children with milk. Due to war the cost of things has gone up and the siege has made it more difficult to purchase items even if you have sufficient money.
Syrian regime is backed by Russian air force and ground forces of Iranian Revolutionary Force. Thousands of volunteers from Lebanese Hezbollah are also supporting the regime along with Pakistani, Afghani and Iraqi fighters.