The first group of residents, trapped in eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo, has begun their escape through a humanitarian corridor created with Russia’s help.
Photo: Reuters / Abdalrhman Ismail
The first group of residents, trapped in eastern neighborhoods of Aleppo, has begun their escape through a humanitarian corridor created with Russia’s help, the Al Mayadeen TV channel reported.
According to RT, the Syrian government has distributed around the neighborhoods leaflets with directions to the four safe passages out of the areas under siege.
“To avoid unintended casualties among peaceful citizens, the Syrian government is asking you to leave the blocked areas. The Aleppo governor gives you an opportunity to exit through the routes specified in the scheme. Save your life and the lives of your loved ones,” RT quoted a leaflet.
The government advises people fleeing Aleppo to raise their hands with the leaflet near checkpoints, to move slowly and to follow the commands of the Syrian military. At the checkpoint, they will be required to turn around and demonstrate that they do not have explosives on them.
Makeshift centers equipped with medical services are ready to take the refugees, the SANA information agency reported, citing the governor of Aleppo, Mohammad Marwan Olabi.
A large-scale humanitarian operation for Aleppo residents was launched by Russia and Syria on July 28, three humanitarian corridors for civilians and one for the passage of fighters have been set up.
According to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, the fourth corridor has been opened because the US could not provide Russia with data on Al-Nusra Front terrorist group, which has recently been attempting to merge with other armed opposition groups in Syria. The Defense Minister noted that Russia is still hoping to receive data on the whereabouts of the moderate opposition in Syria.
“In the past two hours more than 25 gunmen have turned themselves in with weapons, others have decided to flee the area, leaving behind their heavy weaponry,” RT quoted the words of Syrian journalist Alaa Ebrahim, citing an unnamed source in the Syrian Army.
A decree granting amnesty to all militants that surrender was issued by Syrian President Bashar Assad on July 28. According to SANA, citing an unidentified source, this prompted “scores of terrorists” to turn themselves in and lay down their arms.
At the request of the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, Russian experts have departed to Geneva to work out joint steps designed to stabilize the situation in Aleppo. The Russian defense minister said that Moscow offered to unite with its partners in the fight against terrorism to avoid a repeat of the disastrous Afghan, Libyan, and Iraqi scenario.
Russia and the US have also been called to team up in an effort to curb the fighting in Syria by UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura.
