Nubul and al-Zahraa: Leaked Documents Show Different Facets of Suffering
by Thaer Ajalani - Syria*
720 days ago, from the far north of Syria, a story aroused concerning seventy thousand people under siege.
There's no need to search for the reasons of this siege. The conflict parties agreed that the residents of both towns (Nubul and al-Zahraa) are guilty; whether because they belong to the Shiite doctrine (this term is equivalent to atheism according to Takfiris), or because they support the Syrian Regime or Hizbullah.
Nubul and al-Zahraa: Leaked Documents
The documents leaked from the town through "Turkey" show the different facets of suffering in this forgotten area.
Hadi, one of the residents who were able to sneak out of the town said: "a siege was imposed on Nubul and al-Zahraa for sectarian reasons after the fall of Aleppo and the control of the Nusra Front over Gazi Aintab Road."
Hadi indicated that the siege began by depriving them from bread. Then all goods became scarce.
Now, it is no longer easy to get a living for you and your children. We have documented children death cases due to the lack of nourishment.Hadi continued: "after three months of the siege, a passage was opened from the city of Afrin to contraband food from Afrin to Nubul and al-Zahraa through an ungraded road. Many risked their lives by bringing food since that road is a threat for us as Shiite."
"This situation didn't last long. The Kurds held an alliance with the so-called FSA and shut the passage. Therefore, both towns returned to being fully blockaded", according to the testimony of the residents.
The Syrian Government improved its relation with the Kurds in the north, which reflected positively on the residents of Nubul and al-Zahraa.
The passage opened back for the residents who dare to pass through that road after the clashes between the so-called FSA and the Kurds in the neighborhood of Ashrafieh.
It became the only way to bring food from Afrin city, but the prices were high and the quantity wasn't enough. Residents commented on the situation saying: "Better one-eyed than stone-blind."
Hadi denied the existence of Hizbullah fighters in the town, but he stated that he doesn't consider supporting Hizbullah a charge which deserves death penalty.
He also mentioned that armed popular committees were formed to defend the town in case the militants tried to break in.
Om Ragheb as well told her tragedy to al-Ahed, saying: "the siege became harder. We started eating grass from the ground. Our kids starved to death. My grandson died before my eyes. He fought hunger for months and days but death defeated the body of an 11 months old baby".
She wiped her tears and smiled saying: "we count him as a martyr in honor of the Prince of Martyrs [Imam Ali as]".
Even though education is not a priority during war time, students who insisted to continue their education suffered a lot whether in schools, institutes, or universities.
In addition, there was an attack on a helicopter that carried academic cadres, which caused the martyrdom of all the teachers onboard.
Kidnapping and Dying
As the war intensifies, residents suffer more and more...
"If she was martyred I would have buried her near the house and read Quran for her every morning, but I don't know her fate yet", a 17 years old kid summarized to al-Ahed a kidnapping story, that became a nightmare to the residents.
This series ended by the tragedy of 63 women and a child, who were kidnapped from the towns of Nubul and al-Zahraa, where the so-called FSA hijacked the buses carrying them and took them to the towns that were under their control.Abu Mohammad said that the ways of dying vary here: "If hunger didn't kill us, Mortars would. Missiles, random bursts of bullets, and destruction became normal scenes to people here. We are subject daily to dozens of mortars, which killed hundreds of lives, mostly children, in addition to the destruction of houses."
Abu Mohammad recalled his life before the war: "for many years, we lived here with our neighbors who belong to the Sunni doctrine in the near towns. Even at the start of the crisis it wasn't that bad, until al-Nusra Front and ISIL Militant Groups appeared and issued the fatwa of besieging us."
Abu Mohammad added: "screaming children and moaning women are two death anthems are played in both towns with every new dawn, not to mention the attempts of breaking into the towns by the ‘Militants' every day.
*Translated by website team
