Member of the Syrian Coalition’s political committee Riyad al-Hassan called upon the United Nations and the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) to act urgently in order to save the lives of civilians trapped in the besieged areas across Syria, especially in the town of Madaya northwest of Damascus.
Hassan called on the UN relief teams to expeditiously introduce aid to the town of Madaya where civilians have been suffering from severe malnutrition as a result of the siege imposed by the Assad regime and the Hezbollah militias.
Hassan sounded alarm over the spread of kwashiorkor among civilians trapped in the town, especially children. Kwashiorkor is a form of severe protein–energy malnutrition caused by insufficient protein consumption.
Food supplies that have been lately allowed into Madaya were restricted to only flour and beans which are almost void of protein. Likewise, medical supplies that the UN relief teams introduced to the town were restricted to some medicines for children and antibiotics.
Doctors operating in the town appealed to Syrian Red Crescent and the UN teams to introduce serum albumins in order to compensate for the acute deficiency of protein for children and people who have shown signs of kwashiorkor.
Doctors warned that an increasing number of children in Madaya are showing signs of severe protein–energy malnutrition. They said that they have so far recorded 210 cases, documented by full name, including 110 cases among children under the age of five. Doctors said that children with malnutrition showed signs of distended abdomen and inertia, while the signs that have appeared on adults include paleness and swelling of the ankles and feet.
Doctor Mohammed Darwish, who operates in the town, warned that the cases of severe malnutrition would continue to rise among civilians unless food items with dietary protein were delivered to the town, most importantly fruits, vegetables and meat. (Source: Syrian Coalition)
