Lovingly laid down on the floral cushion lining of an incubator, a prematurely born Syrian baby peers into the photographer's lens with a furrowed brow and a teary gaze, in scenes made available by news agency epa on Tuesday.

The baby, whose tiny toes were dwarfed by an illuminated pulse monitor, was under the observation of nurse Ghoussoun at the neonatal intensive care unit of the Damascus Countryside Specialized Hospital.

The medical complex is located in the rebel-held Damascus suburb of Douma, which is besieged by government forces.

However, tucked away in incubators within the colorful walls of this windowless clinic, the newborns were, thanks to the care of dedicated workers such as Ghousson, oblivious to the precarious nature of their existence.

Ghousson, who has worked at the neonatal ward for five years, told the epa correspondent that Syrian health sector had been seriously damaged by the ongoing civil war.

Severed supply chains into besieged areas like Douma hamper the efforts of medical staff, as does the constant threat of airstrikes and shelling from across the front line.

Ghoussoun must make do with whatever limited medical supplies and equipment are available to her in the unit.

In one image she can be seen inspecting a pair of syringes, while in another she assesses another of her tiny patients under the glare of an ordinary desk lamp.

Ghoussoun's work goes beyond providing medical attention to her young patients.

The epa photographer documented the moment she cut the shape of a whale from a sheet of blue card, which she then pinned to the wall alongside the dozens of other homemade decorations that brighten up the clinic.

In another scene she lovingly attaches a bow onto the side of a little cardboard box that she had lined with colored paper.

It was a tactic, said Ghoussoun, not only to help the premature babies but to provide a pleasant distraction to the stress suffered by the mothers.

Ghoussoun said she was honored to be able to help women and their infants get back to health.

The images captured by epa demonstrate the care shown to each new life in war-ravaged Syria.