A Syrian Medic’s Account of His City’s Siege: ‘People Don’t Celebrate Birthdays Now’

A paramedic shares his experience of the siege and bombardment of Eastern Ghouta, Syria, where at least 403 civilians have been killed by government-led forces since Feb. 18, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The area has been held siege since 2013 and suffered pronounced attacks throughout February. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) spoke with the author over the past few weeks to compile this account.