A Syrian refugee woman gives sweets to children during the first day of the Muslim festival of Eid-al-Adha at the Arbat refugee camp in the northern Iraqi province of Sulaimaniya (Picture: Reuters)

Syrians are being urged to eat cats, dogs and donkeys as widespread food shortages take hold.

Those gripped by hunger in the country’s bloody civil war have been allowed to eat the animals in a fatwa issued by mosques in rebel-held suburbs of Damascus.

Three dogs were immediately killed for food in one refugee camp following the order, Arabic newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat reported.

One imam told a TV channel: ‘How does the world sleep with full stomachs while there are hungry people? Are you waiting for us to eat the flesh of our martyrs and our dead?’

Aid agencies have warned the death toll of 100,000 people could soar because supplies of food cannot get through to many areas.

Syrian government forces have blocked off access to areas under rebel control, leaving aid agencies unable to deliver supplies.

Daily bombings have also hampered relief efforts despite the UN Security Council passing a resolution last week calling on all sides to allow aid agencies unhindered access in Syria.

Médecins Sans Frontières general director Christopher Stokes said Syrians faced ‘the absurd situation’ of weapons inspectors driving freely while humanitarian supplies are blocked.

‘Influential countries gathered around a table, thrashed out an agreement on chemical weapons and put it into practice,’ he added.

‘They have shown it can be done, so where are the efforts to repeat this success with access for humanitarian aid?’

The UN estimates 2million Syrians have been left homeless since the uprising against president Bashar al-Assad began in 2011.

Fighting continued during the start of the Muslim festival Eid al-Adh today.

Activists said government warplanes bombed the edge of Damascus while rebels fired rockets and mortars into the city centre.

At least three children were killed in bombings, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights claimed.


Source: Metro