Humanitarian operation in Homs, a city under siege
Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Syrian regime
and the UN have concluded an agreement for the "imminent" release of
hundreds of civilians from the central districts of Homs, as well as the
immediate distribution of humanitarian aid to the population that is starving.
The
area of the old city of Homs, in rebel hands for more than 600 days - since
June 2012 - is under siege from the regular army.
Eye
witness accounts given by the population and by
a Jesuit priest tell of dramatic situations, marked by hunger, lack of
medicines, constant bombardments.
The
agreement is the first humanitarian gesture of the regime after the
first round of talks in Geneva II. At
the talks, the UN had pushed for humanitarian corridors in different parts of
Syria including Homs, but the two sides failed to reach any agreement. The
Syrian government states that it is in favor of helping the civilian
population, but not the armed rebels and "terrorists".
Now
the state news agency Sana said that "Talal al- Barazi , the governor of
Homs and the UN coordinator Yaacoub el Hillo have reached an agreement to
secure the release of innocent civilians from the old town and the entry of
humanitarian assistance to the civilians who choose to stay". To
implement this, we need a "humanitarian pause" in the fighting. The
UN has confirmed that the "humanitarian pause" will "provide
vital assistance to about 2,500 civilians." The
rebels have so far made no statement, but it is thought that they will also
observe the "pause".
The
agreement between the UN and Damascus does not set any date , but it is thought
that the humanitarian operation will begin today.
The
announcement of the ceasefire comes as the war continues in other parts of the
country. In
recent days, the army has tried to regain the area east of Aleppo, currently
under the insurgents. According
to the Syrian Observatory, at least 250 people, including 76 children have died
in the bombing so far. The
rebels, in turn, stormed the central prison and freed hundreds of detainees.
In
March, the fourth year of the war will begin. To date it has caused the death of more than 130 thousand people and
destroyed the economic foundations of the country. The
peace talks held in Montreux and Geneva in late January have provided slim
hopes. They
are expected to resume February 10, but President Assad has not yet taken any
decision on the matter.
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