Sixteen days following the partial closure of crossings in Mu’adamiyat al-Sham, Syrian regime forces have strengthened their blockade over the city in rural Damascus.
Today, regime forces constructed sand barriers four metres high on the sole crossing which links the city with the capital, Damascus. It also set up barricades and fortifications on the eastern side of the city, completely blocking the city.
The city, which has been under partial siege for a long period of time, witnessed a tightening of the blockade 16 days ago when families were forbidden from entering and exiting the city with the exception of students and employees. This is in addition to intense scrutiny of ID’s and not allowing entrants to the city to carry anything in their possession.
This tightening has come after armed opposition battalions in the city arrested a soldier from the regime forces. Regime forces have called for his release in exchange for the opening of the crossings.
The city of Mu’adamiya is already suffering from severe shortages in food and medicine, and its population of approximately 40000 lack the basic necessities needed for survival.