ASIA/SYRIA - Civilians trapped in Homs are likely to die of hunger

Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - "Save us, we are hungry": is the appeal launched by the families of Homs, seeking the intervention of humanitarian organizations. The situation for about 800 civilians (half Muslim Sunni, half Christians) trapped in the center of Homs is worsening dramatically: according to Fides sources in the Committee that is negotiating with the army and the rebels in order to ensure freedom and safety to civilians, "the families have no food, no supplies has been possible for days, there is no medicine, they risk dying of hunger. There are elderly people and critically ill children, we need humanitarian intervention." The rebels holed up in the city have said that they could allow the civilians to go out in the evening after 9pm. But at that hour, when darkness takes over, a curfew takes place and if civilians were to come out they would be easily killed in the crossfire, so no one moves.
While the UN observers have announced the temporary suspension of their intervention, the Negotiating Committee, composed of lay, religious and civil society leaders, call for at least a cease-fire of a few hours to allow the entry of humanitarian aid to Homs, but so far none of the two warring parties intend to grant it.
"We must also ensure that such aid, if granted, as we all hope, will truly reach needy families and are not kidnapped " remarks a source of Fides. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 18/6/2012)