View Photo Gallery — Civilians were evacuated from a besieged, rebel-held area of the central Syrian city of Homs on Friday, following a United Nations-brokered deal between opposition forces and the government.
By Loveday Morris, Updated: Monday, February 10, 3:58 AM
The Washington Post
Humanitarian workers braved mortar shells and gunfire Sunday as they pushed forward with their mission to deliver aid into besieged parts of the Syrian city of Homs and evacuated more citizens from the area, a day ahead of peace talks between the two sides.
The three-day “humanitarian pause” that started Friday to allow civilians out of Old City Homs and aid in, has been blighted by violence. United Nations humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said she was “deeply disappointed” that aid workers had been deliberately targeted.
The Syrian government has been under pressure from allies Russia and Iran to allow aid into besieged areas of Homs to show willingness ahead of the second round of peace talks in Geneva, which begins Monday.
It had been hoped that a deal on aid into neighborhoods of the Old City, which have been under siege for more than a year and a half, would be struck at the first round of talks last month, but they ended with little in the way of tangible results.
Some 420 civilians were evacuated from the area on Sunday, according to the Syrian state news agency, SANA. But activists in the Old City said at least six had died after mortars fell as they gathered to evacuate.
Humanitarian workers confirmed more evacuations had taken place but could not give figures. More than 80 left Friday. Men between the ages of 15 and 55 have not been allowed to leave.
Meanwhile, the first food packages arrived inside the area Saturday night. Two trucks carrying 250 food packages, 190 hygiene kits and medicine made it inside, despite coming under mortar and gunfire.
A video showed the trucks, escorted by white SUVs, driving through the war-ravage streets, to the sound of loud explosions.
The Syrian Red Crescent said one of its drivers was injured as the convoy attempted to deliver aid. Both sides have blamed each other for the break down in the cease-fire, with rebels saying mortars were fired by militias loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.
In a statement Saturday night, Amos urged both sides to uphold the cease-fire, saying its workers would not be deterred.
Humanitarian access will continue to be discussed on the sidelines of talks between the Syrian government and opposition in Geneva next week, although the talks themselves are expected to focus on the core issue of political transition.
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