Terrorists were for the third consecutive day preventing civilians from leaving Eastern Ghouta, as residents were on Thursday massively contacting representatives of Syrian human rights organizations with a request to assist their evacuation from the militant-held enclave.

“According to the information received, over the 24 hours, the number of appeals from residents of Eastern Ghouta to human rights activists has increased by several times, with requests to help and assist in their evacuation from the territory controlled by militants,” spokesman for Russian center for Syrian reconciliation Maj. Gen. Vladimir Zolotukhin said Thursday.

According to the spokesman, militants continue mortar shelling of the humanitarian corridor in Muhayam-al-Wafedin.

Earlier in the day, at 09:00 a.m. Damascus time (07:00 GMT) the third five-hour “humanitarian pause” began in Eastern Ghouta, while Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu sent an explanation of Russian initiatives on Eastern Ghouta to UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.

In order to evacuate civilians, a humanitarian corridor with access to Muhayam-al-Wafedin settlement has been prepared with the assistance of the Syrian Red Crescent Society. The citizens are informed of the evacuation details through broadcasting, SMS and leaflets explaining how to exit from the area and to pass government checkpoints.

The ceasefire comes several days after the UNSC unanimously approved resolution 2401, which provides for the introduction of a ceasefire regime throughout Syria for a period of 30 days.

Source: Agencies