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U.N. war crimes investigators gathering testimony from starving Syrian town
Source: Reuters
World | Tue Jan 12, 2016 2:37pm EST
U.N. war crimes investigators gathering testimony from starving Syrian town
BEIRUT/GENEVA | BY LISA BARRINGTON AND STEPHANIE NEBEHAY
Residents of a besieged Syrian town have told U.N. investigators how the weakest in their midst, deprived of food and medicines in violation of international law, are suffering starvation and death, the top U.N. war crimes investigator told Reuters on Tuesday.
An aid convoy on Monday brought the first food and medical relief for three months to the western town of Madaya, where 40,000 people are trapped by encircling government forces.
But Paulo Pinheiro, chairman of the U.N. commission of inquiry documenting war crimes in Syria, said his team remained "gravely concerned" about the humanitarian situation there.
"As part of our investigations, the Commission has been in direct contact with residents currently living inside Madaya," he said in an emailed reply to Reuters questions.
"They have provided detailed information on shortages of food, water, qualified physicians, and medicine. This has led to acute malnutrition and deaths among vulnerable groups in the town," he said in the email sent from his native Brazil.
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U.N. war crimes investigators gathering testimony from starving Syrian town
BEIRUT/GENEVA | BY LISA BARRINGTON AND STEPHANIE NEBEHAY
Residents of a besieged Syrian town have told U.N. investigators how the weakest in their midst, deprived of food and medicines in violation of international law, are suffering starvation and death, the top U.N. war crimes investigator told Reuters on Tuesday.
An aid convoy on Monday brought the first food and medical relief for three months to the western town of Madaya, where 40,000 people are trapped by encircling government forces.
But Paulo Pinheiro, chairman of the U.N. commission of inquiry documenting war crimes in Syria, said his team remained "gravely concerned" about the humanitarian situation there.
"As part of our investigations, the Commission has been in direct contact with residents currently living inside Madaya," he said in an emailed reply to Reuters questions.
"They have provided detailed information on shortages of food, water, qualified physicians, and medicine. This has led to acute malnutrition and deaths among vulnerable groups in the town," he said in the email sent from his native Brazil.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-syria-idUSKCN0UP0VM20160112