Christians in Aleppo struggle to survive. One said, ‘We pray, please God give us strength to remain strong. We are praying for Him to give us the tolerance to accept our situation and to live our faith whilst suffering in this time.’ The poor and the poorest are those who remain. One US dollar used to be 50 Syrian pounds, but now it is 500 or 600. Meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables are available but they are too expensive for many. In the Christian quarter there are 3,221 Christians over the age of 80 who have no one to turn to; their families left the country to escape the war. Sadly, the elderly are neglected even by the churches. As the media focus on the besieged rebel-held eastern enclave of Aleppo, Christians in the government-controlled areas are fighting a daily struggle to survive. Medicines are expensive, and most patients cannot afford them.