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Madaya (Template:Lang-ar) is a small mountainous town in Syria, located at an altitude of 1,400 meters. It is a well known holiday resort. It is located about 40 km northwest of Damascus in the Rif Dimashq Governorate and is home to Lake Barada. Madaya often is snow-top during the winter months especially on January and February. According to the Syria Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Madaya had a population of 9,371 in the 2004 census. Its inhabitants are predominantly Sunni Muslims.
Description
It is famous for its pure natural spring water, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy climate. Dry and cool in the summer, Madaya attracts wealthy Syrians many of which have summer mansions in the town. It also has a big market (souq) known for its European-made goods like sportswear and electronics which makes it quite an experience to visit.
History
No reliable data about the town′s foundation is available.
Since July 2015, the town was reported to be besieged by a combination of Syrian forces loyal to the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and the allied Lebanese militia Hezbollah. In early January 2015, the town became an object of a global propaganda campaign waged by the Syrian opposition.
Since July 2015, the town was reported to be besieged by a combination of Syrian forces loyal to the Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and the allied Lebanese militia Hezbollah.
Video from Syrian activists in January 2016 has shown opposition militants blocking food from entering the town rather than government forces. The United Nations has provided humanitarian aid to Madaya on several occasions prior to that year, including late October. Local population has demonstrated in favor of the Assad Government. The Assad government in agreement with the joint statement on January 7th, 2016 by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria and the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, has called for aid to reenter the besieged town. Al Jazeera was accused of providing fake images of starving children claiming they were from Madaya.
On 7 January 2015, the United Nations said the Syrian government had allowed access to the town for humanitarian aid.
Syria
