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Syrian woman survives 700 days trapped in house
Associated Press ^ | Jun 11th 2014 | Diaa Hadid

Posted on 06/11/2014 2:17:35 PM PDT by Mount Athos

Over the course of the 700-day blockade, her world shrunk to her living room and her kitchen. She survived by eating plants and reading books. She refused to look in the mirror, because seeing her withered state might break her spirit.

Zeinat Akhras, a 65-year-old pharmacist, still bears the effects of nearly two years trapped in her home, surrounded by rebel fighters during the government's siege on the ancient quarters of the central Syrian city of Homs. She's still a wispy 38 kilograms (83 pounds), even after gaining four kilograms (eight pounds) since the blockade ended in early May with the fall of the rebels in the city.

Homs' Old City, a series of crowded neighborhoods, was under siege and bombardment in a campaign by government forces to starve out rebels.

Most of the tens of thousands of residents of the areas had already fled. With the siege dragging on, rebels began deserting as hunger spread, and morale collapsed in late 2013. Finally, the last few dozen fighters were evacuated in May to areas further north under a cease-fire, and government forces took full control of the city.

Akhras and her two brothers were among the few civilians who stayed until the end, in their multi-story family home in the al-Maljaa quarter, decorated like many of the area's homes in an Arab medieval style of black-and-white geometric facades.

They stayed because they feared rebels would seize the building - the fate of other abandoned homes - or would loot the family pharmacy or clothing shop.

In the beginning, the siege was tolerable because Akhras' family had hoarded provisions for the sometimes long lockdowns during previous gunbattles. They were well stocked with rice, beans and cracked wheat and fuel.

(Excerpt) Read more at aol.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Syria
KEYWORDS: prepper; survivalist

1 posted on 06/11/2014 2:17:35 PM PDT by Mount Athos
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Comment #2 Removed by Moderator

To: Mount Athos; Kartographer

Preppers take note.


3 posted on 06/11/2014 2:24:32 PM PDT by Starstruck (If my reply offends, you probably don't understand sarcasm or criticism...or do.)
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To: Starstruck

You beat me to it. In before the group ping.


4 posted on 06/11/2014 2:38:39 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Starstruck; appalachian_dweller; OldPossum; DuncanWaring; VirginiaMom; CodeToad; goosie; kalee; ...

Prepper PING!!

Hat tip to Starstruck for the heads up!


5 posted on 06/11/2014 2:38:44 PM PDT by Kartographer ("We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.")
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To: FreedomPoster; null and void; Velveeta; Rushmore Rocks; Oorang; MamaDearest; Myrddin; azishot; ...
.

.

In after the group ping.

.

6 posted on 06/11/2014 2:48:38 PM PDT by LucyT (If you're not paranoid, you don't know what's going on.)
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To: Mount Athos

LDS church recommends a year of provisions. I’m leaning toward two years of calories, a little light on the protein because we have so many squirrels (and acorns to feed them). Things could get ugly in a lot of places, including in the sad region that used to be a free United States.


7 posted on 06/11/2014 2:59:18 PM PDT by Pollster1 ("Shall not be infringed" is unambiguous.)
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To: Mount Athos

Wow.


8 posted on 06/11/2014 3:24:43 PM PDT by MagnoliaB
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To: Pollster1

She had more than 2 years provisions, but the rebels stole it


9 posted on 06/11/2014 3:35:12 PM PDT by Mount Athos (A Giant luxury mega-mansion for Gore, a Government Green EcoShack made of poo for you)
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To: Mount Athos

How many rolls of toilet paper did she have on hand ?


10 posted on 06/11/2014 7:00:48 PM PDT by piroque ("In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act")
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To: Mount Athos

bttt


11 posted on 06/11/2014 11:26:08 PM PDT by TEXOKIE (We must surrender only to our Holy God and never to the evil that has befallen us.)
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To: Mount Athos

bttt


12 posted on 06/13/2014 1:27:09 PM PDT by TEXOKIE (We must surrender only to our Holy God and never to the evil that has befallen us.)
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