People dying of hunger in besieged town in Damascus

At least 60 people, including seven children, have died of hunger in the town of Madaya, northern Damascus, since the start of the suffocating siege imposed by Syrian regime forces and Hezbollah militias about three months ago.

Local official said the situation was getting worse, as 20 thousands civilians are living on tree leaves, herbs, and boiled water mixed with spices to secure one meal a day, due to the severe shortage of food in the town.

Madaya Local Authority President Burhan Amer said the civilians of the city, received the last food supply from the United Nations aid authority six months ago.

More than 300 comatose people were being treated with a severe shortage of medical facilities, he said.

The medical centers, which have very limited resources, report that they receive 50 to 60 cases of fainting from hunger or malnutrition daily.

Prices of essential foods are astronomical in the city, which has been under siege of regime forces as well as Hezbollah militants more than three years.

“It is hard to get one kilogram of sugar or rice even if you pay 100 dollars," Burhan said, adding that a man put his $11,000 car up to sale to buy milk for his child.