Hundreds of fighters and civilians from Harasta in Syria’s Eastern Ghouta sit on busses on Mar. 23, 2018 after a deal was struck with the opposition to evacuate a second pocket of the rebel enclave on the outskirts of Damascus. Harasta's evacuation came as part of a deal negotiated by Russia, which has played a key role in the deadly offensive launched against the enclave on Feb. 18. (STRINGER / AFP)
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A second convoy of vehicles carrying civilians and opposition fighters from the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta arrived in Hama province in west-central Syria on Saturday.
According to correspondents in Eastern Ghouta, the 45-bus convoy left the besieged area late Friday carrying more than 3,290 people.
Patients with urgent health conditions are expected to be transferred to the opposition-held Idlib and western parts of Aleppo province.
On Friday, a first convoy of 30 buses reached Idlib and the western countryside of Aleppo province carrying more than 1,900 people, including women and children.
So far, 5,198 people have been evacuated from Eastern Ghouta, out of a total of 8,000 people -- including opposition fighters and their families – who are slated for evacuation from the regime-besieged region, as a part of a Russia-brokered agreement between Syria’s Assad regime and armed opposition groups.
- Syrian Rebels Flee E. Ghouta Under New Safety Deal
- Syrian Evacuation Convoy Reaches Idlib From E. Ghouta
On Feb. 24, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2401, which called for a ceasefire in Syria -- especially in Eastern Ghouta -- to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.
Despite the ceasefire resolution, however, the regime and its allies early this month launched a major ground offensive -- backed by Russian air power -- aimed at capturing opposition-held parts of the district.
Since Feb. 19, more than 1,000 people have reportedly been killed in attacks by the regime and its allies in Eastern Ghouta.
Home to some 400,000 civilian residents, the district has remained under a crippling regime siege for the last five years that has prevented the delivery of badly-needed humanitarian supplies.
This article has been adapted from its original source.
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