E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
A boy holds pita bread as others stand in line outside a bakery in Aleppo, Syria, on Friday.
ALEPPO, Syria -- In Syria's once-affluent merchant city of Aleppo, a 60-year-old man wrapped in several layers of clothes lines up alongside his shivering grandchildren for bread -- a daily and often fruitless ritual that consumes most of his day.
Shielding himself from the rain in Bustan al-Qasr, a rebel-held district in the southwest of Syria's biggest city, Alaa el-Din Hout says shortages of food and fuel are driving his family and many other residents to desperation.
"We're starving. I can bear it but what about my children? I stand from 3 in the afternoon until 11 at night and you can't always get bread," said Hout, wearing a winter hat and scarf to keep out the winter cold.
"We're reduced to either begging or stealing."
Five months after rebels brought their fight against President Bashar al-Assad into the heart of Aleppo, the eastern and southern swathes of the city are a mishmash of deserted districts and no-man's land.
Rebel fighters have hunkered down in warehouses to halt offensives by Assad's forces in the civil war. The few lucky bakeries in Aleppo that have supplies often have hundreds standing in line, hoping for a few loaves.
There is a growing sense of desperation at refugee camps along the Jordanian border. Refugees say in Syria you die from warfare, but in the camps it is a slow death caused by hunger and sickness. ITN's Emma Murphy reports.
Abu Abdo, Hout's son-in-law, has three children, the youngest a 2-month-old baby shivering underneath wraps of blankets. "This is the hardest period I've ever gone through. There's no work, no industry, no electricity, no diesel. How will people live?" said the former stonemason.
"The people have a right to demand their freedom, that's the least of the demands -- I am for the downfall of the regime."
The summer battles around Aleppo have subsided but Syrians in this city, whose peacetime population of 2.5 million has been reduced by an exodus of hundreds of thousands, are facing new challenges of winter cold and wartime shortages.
Some districts are faring better, with vegetable sellers laying out tomatoes and tangerines and falafel shops frying the ubiquitous bean food. But many people are too poor to afford it.
"We can't find any bread. There's a famine. People are dying, half the bakeries are closed. There's no flour," said one man in al-Sha'ar district.
Ahmed Jadallah / Reuters
Free Syrian Army fighters are seen at a front line during fighting with Syrian government forces in Aleppo on Friday.
Ahmed, a 42-year-old man with six children, said he queued from 8 in the morning. "Sometimes we get bread, sometimes we don't. There's no water, no gas, no electricity. The water supply runs out every two days."
Not all the city's residents hold Assad responsible for their suffering. Aleppo has traditionally been a city with divided loyalties and even in areas controlled by the rebels, some people have had enough of the daily shortages and blame them on the president's opponents.
Related: Syria fires more Scud missiles at rebels
"We don't leave our homes after 6 p.m. We just want peace again," said Um Saleh, a woman wearing a face veil and a full-length black wool coat. She blamed the Free Syrian Army rebels for hijacking bread lines to take loaves for their family.
Her husband Abu Saleh said "mistakes" had been made by Assad's officials but added: "You can't fix wrong with wrong."
More world stories from NBC News:
- Germany's latest big export: Christmas markets
- Six-year-old girl shot in face by Taliban and left for dead gets free surgery in US
- Media circus performs at French 'doomsday' village of Bugarach
- Engel, NBC crew believed they wouldn't leave Syria alive
- UN calls for ban on 'grotesque practice' of female genital mutilation
- Video: Syrian refugees speak out on the nightmare of exodus
- UFO lovers, light-seekers and lawyers await Maya end of days
- Rumors of plot to sterilize Muslims spark Pakistan killings
Follow World News from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.
Leave a Comment:
How true...
You can't fix wrong with wrong.
That is the line that stuck in my head.
So basic.
Assad may not be able to kill all the Sunnis but he may be able to make them leave to search for food.
If a few million are forced to leave that could leave his tribe with enough numbers to survive free elections.
Either way, he will end up at the end of a rope. But Shiites might survive this Al Qaida takeover.
Assad may become a Shiite Profit or something.
Assad will open his medical practice in Tehran.
Someone else will take over Syria, whether they operate using Islamic values and implement Democracy (not likely) or become a terrorist Islamist state(more likely) is anyone's guess. At least the Russians have secured the chemical WMD's and kept them out of Jabhat al-Nusra's hands.
We're starving, we're starving. Please send guns!!!
Exactly right, wingnut, or send food, then we'll sell that to buy guns. No way should we help the Muslim Brotherhood, as if they get their way, with or without our help, they'll turn their backs on us. Let 'em fight it out on their own.
At least Abu Saleh is lucky that he is alive to say this!
Since the birth of Islamic cult, followers have done only stealing, kidnapping, raping, looting, terrorizing, killing and genocides in any place they set their feet.
Most affected did not even get this much opportunity! They were were simply killed or driven out.
Assad is far a better leader than most of the ME Sunni rulers.
Still Sunni Syrian rebels, supported by the Sunni seventh century Saudi hating and killing fronts like Salaffi, Muslim Bloodhounds, al-Qaida and other Sunni label ones, can't tolerate a better Muslim ruler just because he belongs to a different sect!
Are these not examples of Islamic religious madness on rampage destroying Syria?
Should have thought of that before siding with terrorists.
Terrorists, as practically every American media article on the war informs us, is the term the Assad regime applies to the rebels.
They're actually activists. Al Qaeda activists.
And those car bombings in Damascus are actually audacious attacks on the regime by resourceful activists.
But yeah, I absolutely agree with you.
I can't help to attempt sarcasm when it's so clear that, for whatever reason, we're constantly fed the line: Assad is evil, rebels are freedom fighters.
So it's kind of impressive to me that polls are indicating that not only do a large majority of Americans not want us involved (at all), but they even disagree with Obama's decision to recognize the rebels as the legitimate government. I've no idea what political backing he thinks he has on this. The American people appear to value secular governments that support minority and women's rights and are suspicious of the outcome of the "Arab Spring".
Another little known poll from a year ago found that a slight majority of Syrian respondants preferred Assad stay.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/17/syrians-support-assad-western-propaganda
No food, but they always seem to have weapons and ammo
The terrorists(rebels) don't look hungry. In fact from earlier news pictures, it seems the rebels are gaining weight and the civilians are gaunt looking. Same in Iraq & Libya. Those civilians must be relieved that the USA is shifting its focus to Asia; problem is, the Asians won't fall for that.
Right, and Bozobama can't help but try to jump in when the wind is blowing a certain way to give an advantage to his socialist leanings or to the politically expedient thought of the day.
"We don't leave our homes after 6 p.m. We just want peace again," said Um Saleh, a woman wearing a face veil and a full-length black wool coat. She blamed the Free Syrian Army rebels for hijacking bread lines to take loaves for their family."
If this is the case before these Sunni Syrian rebels get power, imagine how it will be after they come to power.
Sunni Syrian rebels' rule will be carbon copy Saudi Arabia's Sharia Law and women confined to homes! Then she can't even make these types of statements/comments.
"Terrorist" is also the label the U.S. government and the rest of the world applies to some of these so-called rebel groups.
Aleppo was doing very well and life in it was not at all affected until the rebels attacked the city inflicting destruction, starvation, forced evacutions, assasinations, kidnapping and religious hatred. During the 16 first months of the violent and destructive uprising, the rebels were targeting Aleppo's inhabitants because they did not join them in the destruction of Syria. Those who finally supported the rebels in Aleppo are suffering the most at the present. They don't dare to speak the truth as these rebels, who use them as shields, will silence then forever in the most brutal way imagineable.
Its only bad news when it happens to you,,
hey,allah will get your back!
The article cites a man with six kids to feed and no way to do it. Why are these Muslims so insistant on havng such large families especially given the level of poverty that existed before their revolution? Where are the Muslim donations to help their own people? Where are the Muslim relief workers risking their lives to help them? The infidels have been back stabbed so many times by Muslims that sympathy has dried up.
It is time for Muslims to help their own people instead of expecting the infidels to do it for them.
*crickets*
Sorry sir!
Iraqi wars to save the seventh century bigoted Wahhabi House of Saud and their seventh century dancing and singing and stoning Sunni Muslim clerics and 65 wives plus Kuwaiti ruler are not enough!
You see: Assad is killing girls and women (instead of keeping them in their harems as women rights' leaders of the world, House of Saud ruler and princes do), is having dangerous chemical weapons and his forces are firing Scud missiles into that Toorkey (Toorkey is a big and big NATO strategic ally) Ergodan's seventh century palace and dancing halls!
Iran is having WMDs (they should have got nukes from Pakis, strategic allies)!
As oil is highly critical and deserves merciless sanction on Iranian oil, NATO forces are required to intervene in Syria and Iran.
Rulers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and all those Sunni nations are supposed to fund Salaffi, Wahhabi mosques all over the world.
Those affected must be crazy to expect help from Sunni oil rich rulers!
This is not even Ramadan time to do charity after prayers and feasting all night!
Please don't ask any logical or sane questions at critical times. For NATO forces it is boom, boom, boom time!
Hillary tried to start these boom, boom dances and she got hurt before even starting!
The Great Satan will help feed you... For a price.
What for Sunni Muslim clerics are assembling sets of 72 virgins? If there are shortages, even boys and others dressed as virgins are good enough!
After dancers (oil rich Saudi Arabia and co and their lobbyists) of Great Satan are done, this virgin business of paying back will start as pay back in gratitude!
Al Nasra is an AQ-affiliate- their latest from Homa- if Syrian Christians do not help them oust Assad- thery will be executed en masse. Innocent civilians living in any semi-totalitarian country (Assad's Syria) is becoming very shortly a totalitarian Islamist extreme country- where anyone suspected due to their heritage (Alawis,Syriacs,Shi'a ,Sunni moderates,Armenians,Turkmen et al) will face a Reign of Terror if the AQ wins. Medieval bloodbaths- who is taking all the food and aid distributed by Red Crescent/UN? Refugees into Lebanon,Jordan and Turkey- where they face winter woes. It would behoove the SNA to airdrop bread and blankets all over for those starving and shivering with all the monies they have been given besides arsenal. Qatar's Al-Thune instead of plotting to oust Assad- and arming al Qaeda- should provide nourishment for those suffering from hunger,thirst and cold.
Perhaps Iran can help you out.
This is sad. Something has needed to be done to help the people of Syria for a long time now. New government needs to be established so more employment opportunities can be worked out. In the meantime, food needs to be donated so the people can survive. Assad doesn't care about the Syrian people; the rest of the world should. The world has the money, they're just selfish. Poor children, I hope the people of Syria get relief soon.
And you have personally donated how much? You have given how many hours of your own time to help them? Yeah, thought so.
Hi Daryl,
Actually my husband, daughter and I just finished volunteering at the Salvation Army making care packages and Christmas dinner boxes for families in need. Tomorrow night we will be helping to hand out toys at the Salvation Army for kids in need. I also personally bought a Christmas dinner for a family in need this year and two toys. I have looked around for legitimate charities to help this caus e, but haven't found one actually accepting food or money for the Syrian people. Most just campaigns wanting you to stand with the Syrian people by posting a few words of encouragement on a facebook page or signing a petition, which I already have done.
You sound like an awfully greedy person, by the way. So, what have you personally done to help anyone? YEAH, I thought so. Likely you do NOTHING to help anyone.
I am on sitting on the wall and looking at both sides....On one side I say...Whatever, let them deal with it (who in heck would come and help us???) We have our own destitute and we have our own crappy corners....remember the little girl who was shot watching tv in her home??? On the other side I say... We need to help them, they are not all bad guys/terrorists.
I am usually not one who wants to get involved with the fighting (I say that as a former Marine who thinks everyone should come home). But as we watch this horridness unfold I am literally sitting on the wall and undecided on the next move. I am so sick of hearing about the atrocities against our own people that I am almost believing in my heart that we say to hell with them. Let them sort it out on their own. The children starving is what is giving me pause and pulling me back to giving them a helping hand. As I would wish that if the situation was here, that there would be a compassionate soul that would do the same for my family.
Great post. I would hope that at least most would reflect your thoughts and feelings.
Then ask yourself: What would God want me to do?
My God would want me to help feed the kids, for they are the future.
But my God would also tell me to get the wealthy Muslim countries to pay for it.
Your gods are irrational and non-existent.
Possible Captain, but it feels my spiritual needs. You wouldn't expect me to hope humans would fulfill that need all by themselves now do ya?
No matter what the US does it will be condemned. So let's do nothing and help our country.
Wouldn't we feel better if we feed them,bring them here,pay for everything,so they can grow up to be big strong...people who hate America?
@pained1, you hit the nail on the head!
Assad should have done the right thing months ago and graciously resign and retire in style in a little country villa in France similar to what many exiles have done in the past. Instead his ego will eventually lead to his inevitable demise and many innocent people will continue to be needlessly sacrificed for it also. We are witnessing evil in action.
Uh, let's worry about and feed our own.
While I don't think the US military should be involved, I don't think children should ever starve. We have food to spare by the tonfold and I think it should go to whoever is in need. Including parts of Africa, North Korea, China, and yes, Syria. I know that I for one, never eat the end pieces of my loafs of bread and many children do not eat the crust. Wouldn't it do wonders if companies just omitted these pieces for the US and shipped the remains to in-need areas? I'd pay more for a loaf of bread if it helped a starving child.
Any child that is starving in the US is the result of bad parenting. We have food stamps, WIC, food banks, churches, free breakfast & lunch school programs, free childcare(which provide food), and free transportation (to go get your free food). It's just up to the parent to utilize these services. And if for some reason all of this is not an option, we have orphanages and foster care.
we stuck our noise in the mid-east when we got rid of Saddam, we kicked over the outhouse, and what we now will reap will make the days before we invaded Iraqi seem like the golden years; Islam does not believe in democracy, they do not want democracy, it is not within their religious doctrine.
Our involvement in the Middle East began before Sadam was born.
No, a child going hungry in the US is not necessarily a result of poor parenting, nor should any parent in this country be forced to abandon their children only because they lack the means to feed them.
Yes, this country does have many, many tons of surplus food, much of which will become outdated and discarded, sad to say, but if we send it to Syria, it is not going to reach those for whom it is intended. it will be diverted, stolen, and sold, just as the food stores available now are being diverted, stolen, and sold. Far better that we open our warehouses to US citizens and make the food surplus available to them.
We're starving here in the U.S. I can bear it but what about my children!!
sorry,we gotta rescue us some muslims
hmmmm let me see????? Guns or food for my family????????? Got any guns?
The Syrian peoples' children are are precious to them as ours are to us. The world is so ugly right now, I almost wish the apocalyse had happened yesterday. The news is so full of violence and hatred by human beings against other human beings that if there is a God, I don't understand why He or She would think we are even worthy of existence.
Obviously you have never read The Bible.
The God of the Bible is falling-down drunk with the blood of humans at His hands.
Thank goodness The Bible is just fiction.
Who the hell do you think you are to foist your angry delusions about the beliefs of others???
Worthless muslim pigs.
I suggest one very well pointed bullet to take Assad out, would do the trick.....
We all know that eventually even if Assad survives a while longer, he will be brought to justice sometime in the future and he will be found guilty of numerous atrocities. Let's just dole out justice and save the world and the Syrian people a whole lot of grief and aggravation.
Get to work C.I.A. and earn your keep......
As sad and as desperate the situation has become, Assad cannot be expected to let AlQaida affiliates and other terrorist groups take over his country, Egypt #2. The Saudis and other oil rich kingdoms can easily help the people and provide for food and humanitarian assistance, but they do not - because these kingdoms are the source of funds for the terrorists on the condition that these terrorists will leave the kings alone.
As bad as it sounds, don't look to the west (US) for help.
I'm currently reading a book called "Nothing to Envy, Ordinary Lives In North Korea" by Barbara Demick.
It parallels this situation. When we, The United States or it's Western Allies, give food to countries such as these, the food NEVER reaches the people it was intended for. In North Korea food was given to the men in the Government and the Army first, almost none reached the people, until an underground black markets began flourishing...YEARS later, when all the people who"were going to die, did die" (a direct quote from the book).
I too can feel for a starving child, but us just giving to these countries, without a way to distribute the food to the people it's intended for, would be pointless and, frankly, I'm tired of giving our resources to people who spit in our faces, even when it's US who saved their lives.
"Our American partners admit that the main threat is rebels seizing the chemical arsenal. The opposition forces include all kinds of groups even ones the US has recently proclaimed terror groups. We tell them: 'Guys but you support the opposition and its armed struggle. This armed struggle might result in exactly what you fear. You decide on your priorities.' But there is no clear response to that," said (Russian Foreign Minister) Lavrov.
What is it, exactly? It's not just Obama...Romney was for arming the rebels directly, not just covertly like Obama is.
Is it really all about Israel and the neocon fantasy of "securing the realm" by bringing down every conceivable opponent to Israel in the region? Where the dreams of Paul Wolfowitz and Ayman al-Zawahiri overlap, Obama should know better than to tread.
You got this exactly backwards. The government that was brought down in Egypt was pro-Israel - at least on paper - until we supported islamists takeover of Egypt. Assad has provided for a predictable and stable force in the region, until we bring it down. All of these changes are direct threat to Israel. I think you feel better now.
By the way, does "VCU" stand for Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond?
It has nothing to do with Israel. Israel is a red herring. It's all about Muslims' hatred for others: Sunni vs Shi'ite, Muslim vs infidel.
Only a Jew hater would blame Israel. And even say that our Muslim president, who hates Israel and loves the Arabs and the Iranians and the Turks, would bring down its opponent?
Farideh:
I'm not anti-Israel. I was and am against the neocon plan to re-make the Mideast to the advantage and security of Israel. I believe that supporting the Islamists in Libya, Egypt and Syria will prove extremely counter-productive in the short and long run.
So I'm still trying to grasp why Obama is supporting movements which appear to place at risk minority (Christian, for one) and women's rights.
Then you should not be against "security of Israel" if you claim to support the christians and women's rights. They are the only ME country that protect those rights. And why Obama is doing this? read his book and and look at some of his political appointments, including the State department, and many of your questions will be answered.
I have to read his book, now?
He didn't appoint Elliot Abrams, did he?
Were you for the invasion of Iraq?
No VCU, I was dead against the invasion of Iraq as it served only the interest of Iran. And yes, if you are going to question the man "why Obama is supporting..." then you should read his book, or educate yourself otherwise, so you know why I told you what I did. Elliot Abrams is not his appointee, more reason to learn before you post. I don't mean to be critical of you, but you seem to say one thing, then lose yourself in the next line.
You never answered me, are you a VCU alumni?
Yeah. VCU. Look. This isn't as complicated as we're making it out to be.
You don't have to be a "Jew-hater" to be against the invasion of Iraq, or against the overthrow of Assad in Syria.
You and I are in agreement on these matters. But I see American foreign policy as a long line of mistakes, often with horrific consequences.
The factions that hit us on 9/11 were not Iranian or Iraqi or Syrian. The attacks originated in or were supported by elements in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. If we're going to intelligently defend this nation from further attacks, it might behoove us to recognize who our enemies actually are. And not create new ones in the process.
Taking your point exactly, I am against overthrow of Assad, when the alternative is horrific. If you read your own comments, you will see why. Let me explain, the factions who are trying to replace the Assad secular dictatorship with an ismalic theocratic dictatorship are the same factions (AlQaida) who caused the 9/11. Other factions of islamic extremists (Muslim Brotherhood) are taking over Eqypt, and offshoot of MB (Hamas) has taken over Gaza. There are unrests in Mali, Tunisia, Sudan, not to mention Pakistan and their brand of Taliban.
I would give the secular dictatorships who are pro-west, and pro-US (liberals don't like that) thumbs up anytime, over the anti US theocratic dictatorships of Iran.
Farideh:
Agreed. But I do think that the popular opposition to American intervention spans the political spectrum.
A lot of us liberals have no love for religious fanaticism! Are you Iranian?
Yes, I am Iranian, escaping from Iranian massacre of "infidels" (we are B'ahai), which is still going on, quietly, under the radar, with the rest of the world looking away. That is why our liberal administrations, Carter and Obama, must stay away from intervening with friendly dictatorial governments with the stated goal (non sense) of establishing democracy. It never happened that way. Instead, we face murderous theocratic dictators who despise the US. Look around.
Obama's Arab Spring. Saddam's store of weapons of mass destruction moved to Syria by Russia and Iran.
Gee, I thought the Obama administration was supposed to be guaranteeing this kind of aid in Syria, if only through the Syrian rebels. How can they still be having trouble with logistics after all of this time? - RC
Some of the most important weapons in any freedom movement are basic supplies. You can usually get weapons from multiple sources, but basic supplies are almost always in extremely short supply. There used to be a person who made sure that this happened, and more often than not is was the team medic on U.S. Special Forces A-Teams. Freedom movements can actually be won or lost based upon the availability these basic supplies. It is absolutely vital that the Obama administration make sure that these critical supplies are placed into the proper hands inside Syria, if they ever want to one day see a free Syria! - RC
(When I left active duty back in 1972 (honorable discharge), I wasn't even old enough to legally drink alcohol in my home state (FL) here in the U.S.) - RC
(And yet I had already been trained to not only fight in Vietnam, but also fight WWIII behind enemy lines in Eastern Europe.) - RC
(Yes, I was eventually on the top "Go Team" U.S. Special Forces back in 1972 (predecessor to the Delta Force, but on an international level), designed to make sure WWIII NEVER HAPPENED! Personally, I would say we did our job in flying colors! Please keep in mind that the "equation for war"was already most important, and our ultimate job was to effectively 'scramble' that equation! In short, we became the "wild card" to WWIII.) - RC
(SADM nukes and all!) - RC
Has Hillary ever known a day without a hot meal.....