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SNOW IN SYRIA

Youngsters in war-torn town close to Aleppo enjoy a snowball fight as struggle to survive continues

Families displaced by five-year civil war living in tent city and relying on food aid

THERE may be little to celebrate in war-torn Syria with food shortages and fierce fighting claiming many lives, but these youngsters still enjoyed a snowball fight.

The children are living in Azaz - a rebel-held town about 20 miles northwest of  the devastated city of Aleppo - which has seen brutal bombing campaigns.

Syrian children have a snowball fight in a city of tents as the town of Azaz is covered in a blanket of snow
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Syrian children have a snowball fight in a city of tents as the town of Azaz is covered in a blanket of snowCredit: Getty Images
A child plays in the snow after her family arrived in the town from a rebel-held pocket of Syria's northen city of Aleppo
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A child plays in the snow after her family arrived in the town from a rebel-held pocket of Syria's northen city of AleppoCredit: Getty Images

Azaz is a city of tents where those displaced in five years of civil war rely on food handouts.

But, despite this hardship heartwarming images show youngsters launching snowballs at one another as they run through the snow.

About 34,000 people have left eastern Aleppo since last week in an evacuation deal that has seen the city return to Government control.

Many of those who fled are in the opposition-held town of Maaret al-Numan, where youngsters were pictured making snowmen in the streets.

Syrian children make a snow man in the town of Maaret al-Numan
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Syrian children make a snow man in the town of Maaret al-NumanCredit: Getty Images
Youngsters make snowballs as a thick blanket of snow covers the ground in the Syrian city of Azaz
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Youngsters make snowballs as a thick blanket of snow covers the ground in the Syrian city of AzazCredit: Getty Images
Kids in Azaz making in snowman as snow falls in the tent city
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Kids in Azaz making in snowman as snow falls in the tent cityCredit: Getty Images
A Syrian boy receives food aid in a plastic bucket while in the tent city of Azaz
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A Syrian boy receives food aid in a plastic bucket while in the tent city of AzazCredit: Getty Images

The International Committee of the  Red Cross today said the evacuation of people from east Aleppo had been competed,

spokeswoman Krista Armstrong said: "All civilians who wished to be evacuated have been, as well as wounded and fighters."

The Syrian army said it had retaken complete control of Aleppo after the last rebel fighters were evacuated from the battered city, handing President Bashar al-Assad his biggest victory of the nearly six-year-old war.

Displaced Syrians are living in harsh conditions relying on food aid to survive
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 Displaced Syrians are living in harsh conditions relying on food aid to surviveCredit: Getty Images
Buses continue to leave Aleppo as part of an evacuation pact that will see Government forces regain control of the city
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Buses continue to leave Aleppo as part of an evacuation pact that will see Government forces regain control of the cityCredit: Getty Images

The loss of eastern Aleppo is the biggest blow to Syria's opposition forces since the start of the conflict, which has claimed the lives of more than 310,000.

It puts the government in control of the country's five main cities - Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Damascus, and Latakia.

Syria's conflict began with anti-government protests in March 2011 but spiralled into a civil war after a brutal government crackdown on dissent.

 

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