100 civilians evacuate rebel-held area near Damascus

As many as 100 civilians evacuated on Thursday a rebel-held town west of the capital Damascus, as part of a deal concluded last month between rebels and the Syrian army, a well-informed source told Xinhua.

The 100 civilians are originally from the town of Daraya. Due to the intensity of battles in Daraya over the past five years, those evacuated Thursday had sought refuge in the nearby town of Muadamiyeh.

In Daraya, the rebels were allowed to leave for rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib along with their families, while civilians who wanted to stay with the government were taken to shelters in the town of Hirjalleh, south of the capital.

Observers said Daraya is not suitable for life due to widespread destruction, but Muadamiyeh is still largely livable.

Both Daraya and Muadamiyeh have been subject to a full siege by the government, save for a few instances where humanitarian aid convoys were allowed into the towns.

The rebels in Muadamiyeh are allowed to abandon the insurgency and remain inside the town along with over 30,000 civilians, unlike Daraya, which is now fully deserted.

The government has been engaged in reconciliation efforts and reached some truce deals with rebel factions near Damascus.

Ali Haida, minister of national reconciliation, said Thursday that the international community doesn't take the reconciliation efforts seriously, noting that talks about political process in Syria is till "so early." Endit