Fears over 137 children stranded in Damascus

The United Nations children’s agency says 137 youngsters stranded in a rebel-held suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus require immediate medical evacuation amid a crippling siege in which five have died from a lack of medical care.

Unicef said that during a rare international aid convoy to eastern Ghouta at the end of November, its workers described one of the worst health and nutrition situations since the conflict began in 2011.

It says the children require immediate medical evacuation for conditions that include kidney failure, malnutrition and conflict wounds.

Eastern Ghouta, home to 400,000, has witnessed a tightening siege since 2013.

A government bombing campaign has killed more than 200 since 14 November, according to activists.