Cycle race in Syria's Idlib shows support to E. Ghouta

By Esref Musa and Burak Karacaoglu

IDLIB (AA) - A bicycle race was held in Syria's northern Idlib province on Monday to voice support for a two-month-old baby who lost his mother in a regime attack and the people of Eastern Ghouta.

Karim who lost his left eye last month in the besieged Eastern Ghouta region, in the outskirts of Damascus, has become a symbol of resistance against Bashar al-Assad's regime.

Twenty-five children who lost their relatives to civil war in the country participated in the race, said Bessam Lattuf, one of the organizers.

"We pray to God that this blockade is lifted and this bombing ends," he added.

Eastern Ghouta has remained under siege by Syrian regime forces since late 2012.

The ongoing blockade has left the district’s roughly 400,000 residents struggling with malnutrition and has paralyzed local healthcare facilities.

“I have taken part in this race particularly for baby Karim, who lost his mother, and for all the people in Eastern Ghouta,” said 15-year-old Macid Hamza, the winner of the race.

"I dedicate this bicycle that I won today to the children of Eastern Ghouta," he added.

Meanwhile, an outpour of support for Karim was seen on social media.

Twitter users across the world posted their pictures with their hand clasping their left eye shut.

“#BabyKarim I see you” and "#EasternGhouta siege must end,” became a Twitter trend on Monday.