Off the wire
• Guangdong's GDP grows 7.3 pct in Q1  • Interview: Kenya urged to integrate conservation objectives in development: conservationist  • 2nd LD Writethru: Japanese PM to visit Russia on May 6 -- Putin  • News Analysis: Africa's trading bloc to boost ICT development to spur trade  • 1st LD Writethru: NATO chief says talks with Russia "frank and serious"  • Ukraine puts end to its political crisis: president  • Roundup: Bhutan's pristine forest cover threatened by continuous forest fire  • German researchers teach bacteria new behavior: study  • Portugal harnessing potential of social networks to attract Chinese tourists  • Cameroonian gov't destroys big stock of ivories in public  
You are here: 　 Home

Rebels fire at Syrian Red Crescent vehicles sent to evacuate civilians near Damascus

Xinhua, April 20, 2016 Adjust font size:

Several vehicles of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) came under rebel fire inside Madaya, as around 250 people were set to be evacuated from rebel-held town north of Damascus, a military source told Xinhua.

The SARC team survived the shooting, as their convoy withdrew from the vicinity of Madaya, the source added on condition of anonymity.

However, the operation of evacuating the civilians will continue, the source said.

Under a deal reached with the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations, including the SARC, about 500 Syrian civilians were set to be evacuated on Wednesday from hotspots besieged by both rebels and government forces, according to the same source.

In accordance with the agreement, 250 civilians would be evacuated from the Shiite towns of Kafraya and Foa, which are besieged by the rebels in the northwestern province of Idlib, and in return, government forces will allow 250 civilians to leave the rebel-held towns of Zabadani and Madaya in the northern countryside of capital Damascus.

The source said six big buses, two ambulances and a truck for carrying luggage have started moving to exit Kafraya and Foa, as part of the deal.

Kafraya, Foa, Zabadani and Madaya have seen several instances where conditional aid and evacuation of civilians took place over the past months.

The UN has repeatedly urged the warring parties in the Syrian conflict to lift the sieges and facilitate the flow of food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies to civilians. Endit