Soup from Madaya
- Salt
- Water
INSTRUCTIONS
- Boil the water.
- Add salt to the water.
- Stir. Eat with a spoon from a bowl or deep plate, as if you were eating soup.
“Many people survive only on water and salt. They dissolve the salt in water just to stave off hunger, which is causing them to die.”
“We simply boil the water and add salt.”
Hunger as a Weapon
Madaya is a mountain town located 40 km from Damascus. In the past, it was a popular mountain resort for wealthy Syrians. When the Syrian civil war broke out, many residents sided with the rebels. In retaliation, the government regime and its allies besieged the town. Madaya is also intended to be a lesson from Assad to other cities where rebels are active. The message is: “Surrender, or you will starve to death, like in Madaya.”
Hundreds of mines were planted around the resort, the city was surrounded by barbed wire, and food and electricity supplies were cut off. Madaya became a prison for 40,000 people. Those trying to escape or gather plants for food around the city are shot by snipers. A kilogram of rice costs about $90. A sign placed behind a car window reads: “For sale: 10 kg of rice and 3 kg of powdered milk.”