In war-torn Syria, babies freeze to death

Two infants in Syria died of harsh weather conditions as the Middle East nation braves the wintry cold for a third time in the grip of civil war. Local activists in Homs published video footage of a one-year-old lying dead, its rigid body wrapped in blankets. Opposition group Syrian National Coalition (SNC) announced the death of a six-month-old in Aleppo, warning of mass deaths unless urgent aid arrives. Lack of access to basic necessities has left thousands facing imminent death as the SNC issued an urgent call for help to international institutions. The opposition group said Syrians living in jerry-built huts and cabins were most vulnerable, adding that medical means to treat illnesses and frostbites were extremely limited.