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Syria

Syria – Conflict (ECHO Daily Flash of 24 March 2017)

A ceasefire agreement was reached on 19 March in the besieged neighbourhood of al-Waer in the central city of Homs. The deal is to be carried out within six to eight weeks, and entails the evacuation of residents and release of detainees. The first evacuation involved 1 400 persons (including 519 children) who arrived in Al-Bab-town and were transferred to Shamareq camp in Azaz. Humanitarian assistance is being provided to cover basic needs of the evacuated persons and protection monitoring.
Since 8 March, Damascus has been witnessing an escalation of violent clashes including suicide bombers, shelling and air strikes. On 19 March, an assault was launched on the Joubar area of East Damascus, reaching the cities of East Ghouta, Barzeh, Qaboun and Jobar between the Syrian Arab Forces and opposition groups. The humanitarian situation has rapidly deteriorated.
On 15 March, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O‘Brien declared that the toll of war on civilians has reached an inexcusable stage. Almost five million people - the majority of them women and children - are now living as refugees, while many of them perished trying to escape. He also underscored that even if a commitment to peace succeeds tomorrow in Syria, millions of civilians will still require humanitarian assistance for months and likely years to come. Mr. Obrien praised the humanitarians who continue to deliver aid to millions of civilians.