Not less than a total 6,750 people were evacuated from towns in Syria’s Easter Ghouta. The evacuations are considered to be the largest evacuations to date, as reported by the state media.
As many as 100 buses left on Tuesday morning from the Irbin corridor twards rebel-held Idllib province at the northen side, Sana News Agency reported.
Before this evacuations, more than 6,000 people have already left the Harasta towns. The towns were under the control of Ahrar al-Sham rebel group among others like Irbin, Zamalka, Jobar and the district of Ain Tarma was under the control of Faylaq ar-Rahman rebel group.
An evacuation deal was struck between the rebels and Russia last week. Russia is the main ally supporting Bashar Al-Assad.
Another third rebel group from Eastern Ghouta’s Douma, home to about 140,000 people has refused to surrender and a deal is under negotiations.
According to some activists, there is optimism around a deal being struck and announced at the end of this week between rebel group Jaish al-Islam and the Russians.
The area of Eastern Ghouta has been under continuous control since the year of mid-2013. The very same year, the government of Assad imposed a tight siege over the suburb area of Damascus. The area was home to some 40,000 people.
For about six weeks since the month of February 18, Syrian government forces, supported by Russian fighter jets, controlled the siege on the city with heavy bombardments and shelling, killing about 1,500 people and wounding more than 5,000.
Douma-based activist Laith al-Abdullah told during an interview that Faylaq ar-Rahman are putting their efforts to evacuate their extended family members currently trapped in Douma – despite ongoing negotiations.
“Negotiations are ongoing and we expect to hear in three days whether a deal is reached,” he told News Agencies.
Douma’s local council on Tuesday described the ongoing negotiation process as “difficult”.
“We do not expect fast results. We all need to be patient,” the council said in a statement.
The first round of negotiations that were held between the Douma-based rebels and the Russians included talks on improving shelters for displaced civilians, the statement added.
The talks were also inclusive of ceasefire extension to last throughout the entire negotiation period, and to allow aid trucks inside the area.
The second round of talks will start on Wednesday, activists told News Agencies.
It is still unknown what the agenda of the second round of talks will entail.
Residents of the enclave have been in dire need of basic things like food and medicine, especially since the latest offensive began, which has exacerbated Eastern Ghouta’s humanitarian crisis.
Though there was some aid has previously been allowed in, a 46-lorry aid convoy only included supplies for 27,000 people. Other convoys have not been able to enter due to the government’s continuous bombardment campaign that had been ongoing for more than a month.