ALEPPO, Syria — The city of Aleppo has been under siege for 13 consecutive days. The Syrian regime imposed the blockade on the areas under the control of the Syrian opposition after government forces took over strategic areas July 7 in al-Mallah region in northern Aleppo province. As a result, the regime forces were able to closely monitor Castello Road, the only road leading to the northern and western countryside of Aleppo and the sole humanitarian route that allows the daily passage of merchandise and food from Aleppo’s countryside and from the Turkish-Syrian border areas to the neighborhoods in Aleppo that are in the grip of the armed opposition. Castello Road was still blocked at the time of this writing.

Residents of Aleppo neighborhoods controlled by the rebels are experiencing a tragic situation under the regime’s siege. The city’s markets that were once buzzing with people are now almost empty and many shops have shut down due to a lack of food products that used to arrive daily via Castello Road. The prices of some commodities, such as potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes and bread, have soared and have become unaffordable for the unemployed in the city.

In addition, the large number of civilians in the areas of Aleppo under the Syrian opposition’s control — estimated at 400,000 by the local council of Aleppo city — has added insult to injury. Food and vegetables in the markets ran out three days after the regime forces besieged the city. UN spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci said in her July 12 press statement at the Geneva headquarters that “intensified hostilities between government forces and armed groups had cut 300,000 people in eastern Aleppo off from humanitarian supplies and commercial goods, and prices in the city were already rising.” Vellucci also demanded evacuation of civilians from Aleppo.

Abu Alaa, who lives in al-Qatarji neighborhood, told Al-Monitor, “We were not ready for the siege. They suddenly said that Castello Road is blocked. Nobody can leave or enter the city. I have been trying since the early morning to buy 1 kilogram [roughly 2 pounds] of tomatoes, but in vain. I looked everywhere, but I still cannot find any. I have a family of six. This is unbearable. My wife and I can take hunger, but how will my son survive this? He is 6 and does not understand war and sieges. We hope this situation will not last long. People will not be able to tolerate the siege long.”