3rd Convoy Leaves Eastern Ghouta amid Evacuation Deal

Eastern Ghouta/Ankara – MINA – A third convoy of vehicles carrying civilians and opposition fighters from the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta arrived in Hama province in west-central Syria on Sunday.

According to Anadolu Agency correspondents in Eastern Ghouta, the 17-bus convoy left the besieged area late Saturday carrying more than 994 people, including 132 injured people.

The people were evacuated from the towns of Arbin, Zamalka and Ein Tarma in Eastern Ghouta.

The convoy is expected to arrive in Maarrat Al-Numan city in Idlib province in northwestern Syria.

A total of 8,000 people — including opposition fighters and their families – are slated for evacuation from the regime-besieged region, as a part of a Russia-brokered agreement between Syria’s Assad regime and armed opposition groups.

On February 24, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2401, which called for a ceasefire in Syria — especially in Eastern Ghouta — to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Despite the ceasefire resolution, however, the regime and its allies early this month launched a major ground offensive — backed by Russian air power — aimed at capturing opposition-held parts of the district.

Since Feb. 19, more than 1,000 people have reportedly been killed in attacks by the regime and its allies in Eastern Ghouta.

Home to some 400,000 civilian residents, the district has remained under a crippling regime siege for the last five years that has prevented the delivery of badly-needed humanitarian supplies. (T/RS5/RS1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)