Starvation as a tool of war in Syria

Fighting from within, bombed from above, and now starvation.

Syria’s struggling population continues to dwindle as lives are lost to war and hunger.

More than half of all Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance.

The UN says it is unable to help around two million children because they’re blocked by fighting or siege.

In some areas, the price of food has skyrocketed so that a kilogramme of rice now costs $100.

While civilians are starving in Syrian towns, the international community is stalled on a political solution.

Opposition groups are meeting in the Saudi capital of Riyadh this week. They are trying to determine who will be included in negotiations scheduled for later this month – talks aimed at preventing Syria’s civil war from going into a sixth year.

Inside Story takes a look at the besieged towns of Zabadani and Madaya, once popular resorts which are now in ruins, and asks who will ease the suffering of civilians still trapped in Syria?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests:

Fadi Al-Qadi – Human rights advocate and commentator

Wael Aleji – Spokesperson for the Syrian Network for Human Rights

Mouin Rabbani – Middle East analyst and former Head of Political Affairs for the UN special envoy for Syria