Syrians face vision loss from Eastern Ghouta attacks

Syrians visually impaired due to fighter jets' bombardment of Eastern Ghouta -- including children -- can't forget their suffering.

Muhammed Bessam El Meydani, 57, Sair Hubbolla, 30, and Mutasimbillah Abidrabbo, just 2 years old -- all suffering loss of vision after fighter jets hit their shelters and homes before the evacuation of Eastern Ghouta this March and April -- are awaiting help and treatment in Turkey.

Living with his relatives in the southern Turkish border province of Hatay, Meydani told Anadolu Agency on Monday that they are grateful for having survived the Syrian civil war.

"My four children and I starved and faced years of misery. We were hungry for days. We couldn't even find a piece of bread. My children lost weight and got sick due to malnutrition," he said.

Meydani told of their joy when they learned they would be evacuated from the besieged enclave.

"My family and I were extremely happy. I suffered an attack and lost my left eye and sustained partial vision loss in my right eye one month before out evacuation. I don't know how we will be treated. We've been waiting for support and are grateful to the Turkish people for supporting us," he said.

-SHRAPNEL INJURIES
Hubbolla also said that shrapnel pieces hit his eyes so he is suffering from vision loss as well.

He said that during the siege their home was hit by Assad regime forces and he was heavily injured.

"Shrapnel pieces hitting my eyes caused a major vision loss. I came to Turkey to be treated. We thank Turkey for its help," he said.

Abidrabbo Iman, the father of toddler Mutasimbillah Abidrabbo, said that starvation and endless attacks are disrupting their lives in Syria.

"A few days before the evacuation, an attack hit our shelter. My 2-year-son was trapped beneath the ground and his mouth was filled with soil. His sight was harmed and brain lacked oxygen. We hardly took my son out of the ground. Then he passed out. My son was in intensive care unit for seven days and now he has vision loss," he said.

Abidrabbo added that they came to Turkey for treatment.

"We want to return to our country when my son gets healthy again," Abidrabbo added.

Syria has been locked in a vicious civil war since 2011 when the Assad regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests with unexpected ferocity. Since then, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict, according to the UN.