The humanitarian situation of thousands of civilians trapped inside the district of Barza in northeastern Damascus is sharply deteriorating as regime forces continue to impose a tight blockade on the rebel-held district.
The media office in the district on Thursday issued a statement saying that regime forces continue to block all roads in and out of the district; a ban that has been in effect for 15 consecutive days. Regime forces also prevent the exit of civilians, including students and government employees, from the besieged district.
Adnan Dimashqi, member of the media office in Barza, said that the district is home to over 40,000 civilians, many of whom have been displaced from eastern Ghouta and the nearby district of Qaboun.
Dimashqi pointed out that the closure of the roads to Barzah caused prices of staples to skyrocket, with one pack of bread costing over 850 Syrian pounds and one kilogram of sugar costing over 1,300 Syrian pounds.
The deteriorating living conditions in Barza district were further aggravated by intensified military operations by regime forces. Many civilians have been injured in the last few days in sniper fire and mortar shelling by regime forces, Dimashqi added.
Regime forces, backed by Iranian militias and Russian forces, have recently advanced on the farmlands surrounding parts of the district, bringing the battle frontlines closer to residential buildings on the outskirts of Barza. The FSA groups stationed in the district continue to fend off the regime’s attacks.
The most violent clashes have been taking place in Hafiz Street and Taweelah Road near the educational complex and the farmlands on the outskirts of the besieged district. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department + Inab Baladi Newspaper)
