Madaya Duster

This duster is named after Madaya, a mountain town near the Lebanese border. Known as a summer retreat with cool air, fruit trees, and hillside homes, Madaya became widely known during the war for the blockade that lasted from 2015 to 2017. The town’s access to food, fuel, and medicine was heavily restricted. Humanitarian convoys were delayed or turned back. Inside the blockade, families learned to stretch what they had to survive. People lived from shared portions of rice and lentils. Leaves and wild plants were boiled and divided into small meals. Parents often ate less so their children could eat more. Community kitchens formed in homes and basements. Distribution networks were informal and quiet, built on trust and the need to make sure no one was abandoned. Survival depended not on supply, but on coordination and care. In 2017, Madaya’s population was evacuated as part of a negotiated exchange involving the towns of Zabadani, Foua, and Kafraya. Some residents later returned to reb