Ceasefire Declared by UNSC: 30-Days to Conduct Humanitarian Operations - Russia Will Provide Aid
On Saturday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution for setting a 30-day cease-fire regime all over Syria, and holding humanitarian operations. The cease-fire regime doesn't affect military actions against terrorist formations.
It was specifically emphasized by President Putin during his phone conversations with German and French leaders today, Ms. Merkel and Mr. Macron. The Kremlin's press office reports that Putin thanked his colleagues for their help in passing the UNSC resolution and informed them about Russia's practical steps to evacuate civilians, deliver humanitarian supplies, and provide medical services to the Syrians.
Here are the details on the adopted resolution, with comments by Russia's MFA.
"It's clear that directions from New York without clear agreements between opposing Syrian sides won't facilitate the cease-fire regime. We count on foreign patrons of the anti-government armed formations to finally complete their part of the homework. They are to stop their proteges from any combat activity in the interests of fast and safe passages for humanitarian convoys. We'll supervise the process closely".
Meanwhile, our MFA especially emphasizes that humanitarian aid must be unbiased, not serving political goals, as often seen by Western capitals.
The most attention in Syria is now paid to the de-escalation zone in Eastern Ghouta. It's a Damascus suburb where Syrian Government Army is in combat with illegal formations. The fanatics use civilians as hostages. They use them as human shields to protect themselves from air strikes. The region is on the verge of a humanitarian disaster.
Our military correspondent Anton Stepanenko is reporting on the spot.
So far, only military pilots have seen the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta like this. Over 100 sq. km. of benign lands east of Damascus. The town of Douma, Jobar, and Harasta have been occupied by the militants for 6 years. Almost 2 million people used to live here before the war, now nobody knows for sure. It's approximately 200-300 thousand. And, at least 10,000 militants.
Near Douma, vehicles try to pass the last part of the road that leads to the Front faster. Kids playing in the streets are deceiving. They live here and are used to being shelled by the militants. The latter have become more active in the past days. Their mortars fire from residential blocks of Douma at the residential blocks of the town of Vafidin.
"Yesterday, the militants had fired 35 mines, and 20 more this morning. They keep firing at this place".
This place is unique, there's no other like it in the entire Eastern Ghouta. The humanitarian passage to Vafidin is the only location that connects Damascus with Eastern Ghouta. This is a transfer point. It's open from this side, the side of the Syrian troops. But militants don't let civilians out on the other side.
Militants intentionally work this transfer point. All other directions around Eastern Ghouta form a continuous front line. The mines land right at the transfer point, so people try to move from one door frame to another. This makes it possible to hide in case of fire.
This is the passage itself, with Eastern Ghouta entrance 50 meters away. Neutral land is seen through the firing port in the wall. The battle took place here in the morning. The casings are still on the ground, nobody cleans it up.
Khusein, Syrian captain: "You can see the remains of concrete blocks by the transfer point. They used to cover a part of the road and the transfer point. In the morning, militants tried to shell out the fortifications. Our guys opened fire and didn't let them do it".
He keeps calling the same phone number. The connection here is really poor, if any. Samir has lived at the front line for a week. He has a family of 25 in Ghouta. He keeps watch here, so he can see them when they come.
Samir: "It's OK on this side, we're ready for our families. Militants keep promising to let them go in an hour or two, but they don't. They don't let them go, our women and kids".
Abu Kerim spent 2 years in militants' prison in Ghouta. The Jaysh al-Islam group alone has 20 of them. Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat al-Nusra have their own prisons. Abu Kerim didn't break the law in any way, he didn't steal or kill anyone. He was simply suspected of connections to the government.
Abu Kerim: "They used to lock people up for the desire to run. For the militants, all civilians act as human shields. The prisons are shields, too, as they were in Aleppo and Raqqa. Prisoners are held in the basement, with headquarters and other structures on top".
Like other hostages, this man spent 2 years digging fortifications for the militants.
Our drone travels 500 meters in, deep into the extremists' territory. It takes off at the transfer point, travels over the road. Militants' front positions are visible 50 meters away. The entire front end is dug up with trenches, dirt ridges, and transfer tunnels from one fortification to another. Officially, this is the de-escalation zone No. 3, where civilians are held as hostages. This is where they fire mortars and missiles onto Damascus from.
Anton Stepanenko, Artyom Grigoryan, Aleksandr Pushin. Vesti — News of the Week, Ghouta Front, Syria.