U.S. urges Syria to allow aid convoys to starving civilians in rebel areasOctober 19, 2013 - 09:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The U.S. has urged the Syrian government to allow immediate aid convoys to starving civilians cut off in rebel-held suburbs of Damascus, BBC News reported. Washington said the army's months-long siege left many people in desperate need of food, water and medicine. It also cited "unprecedented reports" of children dying of malnutrition just a few kilometres from President Bashar al-Assad palace. The Syrian army has warned the rebel-held areas must surrender or starve. At least three of Damascus' suburbs - Yarmouk, Eastern Ghouta and Moudamiyah - have been besieged by government forces for several months. The situation has become so desperate that earlier this week Muslim clerics issued a religious ruling allowing people to eat cats, dogs and donkeys just to survive. Those animals are usually considered unfit for human consumption in Islam. In a statement on Friday, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: "We call on the Syrian regime to immediately approve relief convoys." And she warned that "those who are responsible for atrocities in the Damascus suburbs and across Syria must be identified and held accountable". She added that in Moudamiyah "people have been without basic necessities for nearly a year, and the regime's deliberate prevention of the delivery of life-saving humanitarian supplies to thousands of civilians is unconscionable". Footage obtained by the BBC from Yarmouk showed families struggling to find enough to eat. Syrian activists say they are now starting to record the first deaths of complications caused by malnutrition. Related links: Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Ameriabank's Trade Finance portfolio enriched with four prestigious awards from EBRD and IFC Ameriabank received the awards from international financial institutions in recognition of its trade finance operations. Armenian Economy Minister to make trip to UAE May 20-22 A delegation led by Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan will travel to the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi on May 20-22 Armenia Security Council chief traveling to Qatar Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan will travel on a working visit to Qatar. Pillars installed in Armenian border village of Kirants In the Armenian village of Kirants, three border markers have been installed, and border guards stand next to them. |