Starvation sieges through the eyes of Syrian artists

A million civilians are living in besieged areas in Syria without any access to food or medication. To stave off starvation, these civilians are often forced to eat tree leaves, insects and cats.

Hundreds have starved to death. Meanwhile, tonnes of the world’s aid remains undelivered. These people are needlessly dying because UN aid trucks and planes are being denied access to besieged areas by the Assad regime. Access that has been granted repeatedly by the UN Security Council.

Despite the international community’s inaction, brave Syrians are forging strong social bonds with their neighbors in order to survive as a tight-knit community. People are coming up with innovative ways to farm, generate electricity and survive in dire circumstances. When a family is in need, neighbors immediately rally to get help.

A mother looking for milk for her malnourished infant can go door to door in the middle of the night with the certitude that a kind neighbor will extend a helping hand. Hunger hasn’t dampened Syrians’ spirit of resistance either.

Activists continue to document the daily shelling and human rights violations. Syrians have refused to bow under pressure because they haven’t lost sight of their original cry for freedom.