[size=39]Updated: Evacuation of civilians from east Aleppo resumes after a day: U.N.[/size]
Evacuees from rebel-held eastern Aleppo arrive by bus to an area on the western edge of Aleppo city. REUTERS/Ammar Abdullah
(Reuters) Buses carrying Syrian civilians and fighters began leaving the last rebel-held enclave of Aleppo on Wednesday after being stalled for a day, aid officials and pro-government media reports said.
Obstacles hindering evacuations from east Aleppo and from two villages besieged by rebels outside the city had been overcome and the operation would be completed within hours, according to a news service run by the Lebanese group Hezbollah, an ally of the Syrian government.
The eventual departure of the thousands left in the insurgent zone will hand full control of the city to President Bashar al-Assad, the biggest prize of Syria’s nearly six-year-old civil war.
“Buses are now moving again from east Aleppo. We hope that this continues so that people can be safely evacuated,” a U.N. official in Syria told Reuters, as snow began to fall on Aleppo.
People had been waiting in freezing temperatures since the evacuation hit problems on Tuesday, when dozens of buses were stuck in Aleppo and the evacuation of the two Shi’ite villages, al-Foua and Kefraya, also stalled. Rebels and government forces blamed each other for the hold-up.
Charity Save the Children said heavy snows were hampering aid efforts.
“Our partners are trying to treat injured children who have fled Aleppo but the situation is dire. Many have had to have limbs amputated because they did not receive care on time, and far too many are weak and malnourished,” a statement said.
One 5-month-old girl had two broken legs, a broken arm and an open wound in her stomach, the statement said.
Many of those who had escaped Aleppo were sleeping in unheated buildings or tents in sub-zero temperatures. Children have been separated from their parents in the chaos as they run to get food when they get off the buses, the charity said.
EVACUATION PLAN
With obstructions to the evacuation plan apparently overcome, the Hezbollah news service said 20 buses carrying fighters and their families had moved from east Aleppo on Wednesday towards rebel-held countryside. Syrian TV said four buses and two ambulances arrived in government-controlled parts of Aleppo from al-Foua and Kefraya.
Government forces had insisted the two villages must be included in the deal to bring people out of east Aleppo.
So far, about 26,000 people have been evacuated from Aleppo, according to aid officials. A U.N. official said 750 people had so far been evacuated from al-Foua and Kefraya.
Aleppo’s rebel zone is a wasteland of flattened buildings, concrete rubble and bullet-pocked walls, where tens of thousands lived until recent days under intense bombardment even after medical and rescue services had collapsed.
Rebel-held parts of the once-flourishing economic center with its renowned ancient sites have been pulverized in a war which has killed more than 300,000, created the world’s worst refugee crisis and allowed for the rise of Islamic State.
But in the western part of the city, held throughout the war by the government, there were big street parties on Tuesday night, along with the lighting of a Christmas tree, as residents celebrated the end of fighting.
The Syrian army has used loudspeakers to broadcast warnings to rebels that it was about to enter their rapidly diminishing enclave and told them to speed up their evacuation.
Control of Aleppo would be a major victory for Assad, and his main allies Iran and Russia, against rebels who have defied him in Syria’s most populous city for four years.
U.N. MONITORS EVACUATION
The United Nations had said it had sent 20 more staff to east Aleppo to monitor the evacuation.
“Some have arrived yesterday and more will be arriving today and in the coming days,” Jens Laerke, U.N. spokesman in Geneva told Reuters.
Various problems have beset the evacuation, with estimates of how many have left and how many remain varying widely.
Assad’s government is backed by Russian air power and Shi’ite militias including Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement and Iraq’s Harakat al-Nujaba. The mostly Sunni rebels include groups supported by Turkey, the United States and Gulf monarchies.
For four years, the city was split between a rebel-held eastern sector and the government-held western districts. During the summer, the army and allies forces besieged the rebel sector before using intense bombardment and ground assaults to retake it in recent months.
Russian air strikes were the most important factor in Assad’s triumph. They enabled his forces to press the siege of eastern Aleppo to devastating effect.
On the ground, Shi’ite militias from as far afield as Afghanistan played an important role for Assad.
Despite victory in Aleppo, Assad still faces great challenges in restoring the power of his state. While he controls the most important cities in western Syria and on the coast, armed groups including Islamic State control swathes of territory elsewhere in the country.
Evacuees from rebel-held eastern Aleppo arrive by bus to an area on the western edge of Aleppo city. REUTERS/Ammar Abdullah
(Reuters) Buses carrying Syrian civilians and fighters began leaving the last rebel-held enclave of Aleppo on Wednesday after being stalled for a day, aid officials and pro-government media reports said.
Obstacles hindering evacuations from east Aleppo and from two villages besieged by rebels outside the city had been overcome and the operation would be completed within hours, according to a news service run by the Lebanese group Hezbollah, an ally of the Syrian government.
The eventual departure of the thousands left in the insurgent zone will hand full control of the city to President Bashar al-Assad, the biggest prize of Syria’s nearly six-year-old civil war.
“Buses are now moving again from east Aleppo. We hope that this continues so that people can be safely evacuated,” a U.N. official in Syria told Reuters, as snow began to fall on Aleppo.
People had been waiting in freezing temperatures since the evacuation hit problems on Tuesday, when dozens of buses were stuck in Aleppo and the evacuation of the two Shi’ite villages, al-Foua and Kefraya, also stalled. Rebels and government forces blamed each other for the hold-up.
Charity Save the Children said heavy snows were hampering aid efforts.
“Our partners are trying to treat injured children who have fled Aleppo but the situation is dire. Many have had to have limbs amputated because they did not receive care on time, and far too many are weak and malnourished,” a statement said.
One 5-month-old girl had two broken legs, a broken arm and an open wound in her stomach, the statement said.
Many of those who had escaped Aleppo were sleeping in unheated buildings or tents in sub-zero temperatures. Children have been separated from their parents in the chaos as they run to get food when they get off the buses, the charity said.
EVACUATION PLAN
With obstructions to the evacuation plan apparently overcome, the Hezbollah news service said 20 buses carrying fighters and their families had moved from east Aleppo on Wednesday towards rebel-held countryside. Syrian TV said four buses and two ambulances arrived in government-controlled parts of Aleppo from al-Foua and Kefraya.
Government forces had insisted the two villages must be included in the deal to bring people out of east Aleppo.
So far, about 26,000 people have been evacuated from Aleppo, according to aid officials. A U.N. official said 750 people had so far been evacuated from al-Foua and Kefraya.
Aleppo’s rebel zone is a wasteland of flattened buildings, concrete rubble and bullet-pocked walls, where tens of thousands lived until recent days under intense bombardment even after medical and rescue services had collapsed.
Rebel-held parts of the once-flourishing economic center with its renowned ancient sites have been pulverized in a war which has killed more than 300,000, created the world’s worst refugee crisis and allowed for the rise of Islamic State.
But in the western part of the city, held throughout the war by the government, there were big street parties on Tuesday night, along with the lighting of a Christmas tree, as residents celebrated the end of fighting.
The Syrian army has used loudspeakers to broadcast warnings to rebels that it was about to enter their rapidly diminishing enclave and told them to speed up their evacuation.
Control of Aleppo would be a major victory for Assad, and his main allies Iran and Russia, against rebels who have defied him in Syria’s most populous city for four years.
U.N. MONITORS EVACUATION
The United Nations had said it had sent 20 more staff to east Aleppo to monitor the evacuation.
“Some have arrived yesterday and more will be arriving today and in the coming days,” Jens Laerke, U.N. spokesman in Geneva told Reuters.
Various problems have beset the evacuation, with estimates of how many have left and how many remain varying widely.
Assad’s government is backed by Russian air power and Shi’ite militias including Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement and Iraq’s Harakat al-Nujaba. The mostly Sunni rebels include groups supported by Turkey, the United States and Gulf monarchies.
For four years, the city was split between a rebel-held eastern sector and the government-held western districts. During the summer, the army and allies forces besieged the rebel sector before using intense bombardment and ground assaults to retake it in recent months.
Russian air strikes were the most important factor in Assad’s triumph. They enabled his forces to press the siege of eastern Aleppo to devastating effect.
On the ground, Shi’ite militias from as far afield as Afghanistan played an important role for Assad.
Despite victory in Aleppo, Assad still faces great challenges in restoring the power of his state. While he controls the most important cities in western Syria and on the coast, armed groups including Islamic State control swathes of territory elsewhere in the country.
Yesterday at 7:11 am by Rocky
» utube 11/18/24 MM&C IQD News Report - Contracts - Projects - Non Oil Revenue Streams - Activating
Yesterday at 7:05 am by Rocky
» MM&C 11/17/24 For the first time in Iraq.. Efforts to establish an "Investment Association" to attr
Yesterday at 7:00 am by Rocky
» utube 11/16/24 MM&C-News Report-Iraq Dinar-Oil-Flow-Global Maritime Trade-Cross Border Transfer-Ex
Yesterday at 7:00 am by Rocky
» Global conflicts move to Iraq.. America and China fight economically in Baghdad
Yesterday at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: Iraqi openness to comprehensive partnership with Türkiye and developing trade balance
Yesterday at 6:55 am by Rocky
» Accused of negligence, the Parliamentary Energy Committee calls on Al-Sudani to hold the “Baghdad El
Yesterday at 6:53 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki's coalition notes Al-Sudani's performance in three files
Yesterday at 6:52 am by Rocky
» On charges of forgery... Al-Dulaimi complains about Al-Halbousi before the Integrity Commission
Yesterday at 6:51 am by Rocky
» Al-Karawi: The government mortgaged the port of Faw to companies affiliated with the Zionist entity
Yesterday at 6:49 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Integrity: We will proceed with the ministerial amendment even if the government delay
Yesterday at 6:48 am by Rocky
» Reopening of applications to the morning private government education channel
Yesterday at 6:47 am by Rocky
» Bitcoin rises after weekly losses
Yesterday at 6:42 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki Coalition: The government amendment does not exceed three ministerial portfolios
Yesterday at 6:41 am by Rocky
» Parliamentarian: Amending the Election Law is out of the question
Yesterday at 6:39 am by Rocky
» Israel threatens to target infrastructure in Iraq and assassinate "prominent figures"
Yesterday at 5:15 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary regions: Article 140 road is closed
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» The Central Bank of Iraq's dollar sales increased
Yesterday at 5:13 am by Rocky
» Al-Alaq reviews to the President of the Republic the Central Bank’s plans to develop the banking sec
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» Al-Atwani to the French Embassy delegation: Halting external borrowing indicates an improvement in I
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary move against Kar Oil Company: Suspicions of "fake" electricity supply
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Health: Iraq suffers from a large surplus in the number of doctors and pharmacists by
Yesterday at 5:07 am by Rocky
» It causes a loss of one billion dollars per month.. A date has been set for the resumption of Kurdis
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Türkiye blames Iraq: You waste water and do not have good management in rationalizing it
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Iraq rejects “COP29” proposal: We will not get rid of fossil fuels, as they are the basis of our eco
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Bitcoin nears $90,000 after biggest drop since election
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» For the first time, Iraq issues the commodity structure of exports and imports
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Procedures for (automating) the work of Baghdad International Airport
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Planning: No cuts to benefits or taxes due to census
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» International organizations praise the government's national initiatives
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» {Official platform} to combat rumors
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The census will be used exclusively to develop development plans
Yesterday at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Justice audits financial movements in its departments
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Al-Imar to {Sabah}: 3 residential cities in Baghdad to be referred soon
Yesterday at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Region of Iraq plans to receive 10 million tourists annually
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Discussion of mineral investment and export mechanisms
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Consensus on the importance of planning in achieving sustainable development
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Corporate Restructuring: Stimulating Economic Growth
Yesterday at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Iraq's commitment to OPEC decisions controls oil prices
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Delete zeros and evaluate the dinar
Yesterday at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Economists: Empowering the private sector requires a legislative system
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Preparations for holding meetings of the Iraqi-Egyptian Committee
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Legal Committee to Nina: Controversial and important laws will be passed in one go in
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics to Nina: The census activities are completely
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Turkish Trade Minister to visit Iraq tomorrow, Monday, heading a delegation of businessmen
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Slight decrease in dollar exchange rates in local markets
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Basra Gas Company launches the “Safe Step” program to raise awareness of the dangers of mines and wa
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» With high-level governmental and international presence... the activities of the Iraqi Digital Space
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Ministry of Oil: FCC project to produce derivatives to be completed in the middle of next year
Yesterday at 4:33 am by Rocky
» Does America influence the decisions to form the regional government?.. 5 critical months
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Search for remains of the eight-year war postponed until 2025.. Diggers await spring
Yesterday at 4:30 am by Rocky
» US forces reposition in the "Desert Triangle" in western Iraq
Yesterday at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Al-Dahlaki: The general amnesty law is not just an election slogan as the "forgers" want it to be
Yesterday at 4:28 am by Rocky
» Date set for resuming oil exports from Kurdistan via Turkish port of Ceyhan
Yesterday at 4:25 am by Rocky
» 2025 budget between the government and parliament corridors
Yesterday at 4:22 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Finance: Population census is a criterion for distributing resources and financial all
Yesterday at 4:21 am by Rocky
» Dollar prices in Iraqi markets
Yesterday at 4:20 am by Rocky
» A source reviews the factors that "undermine" the goals.. What is behind the efforts to form the "Ce
Yesterday at 4:19 am by Rocky
» What are the most controversial paragraphs in the general amnesty law? Al-Saadi reveals to Sumaria
Yesterday at 4:17 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani chairs the fifth session of the Supreme Coordination Committee between the governorates
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:48 am by Rocky
» A fruitful international-Japanese partnership produces its eighth batch... Celebrating the success o
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:47 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic stresses the need to develop a future strategy for financial policy ac
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:45 am by Rocky
» Tomorrow.. Turkish Trade Minister visits Baghdad to discuss several files
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:43 am by Rocky
» Rashid and Al-Alaq discuss the future of the Iraqi banking sector
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:41 am by Rocky
» US Ambassador assures Maliki of her country's support for Iraq's stability
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:40 am by Rocky
» Parliamentarian addressing the Judicial Council: When will corruption files be resolved?
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:38 am by Rocky
» Economist: Re-exporting Kurdistan oil will cause Iraq to lose $5 billion and a budget deficit
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:37 am by Rocky
» Financial Advisor: Good performance of fiscal space reflects government’s ability to increase spendi
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:34 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic stresses the need to develop a future strategy for financial policy
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:32 am by Rocky
» Parliament determines the most important laws it will work on before its legislative break in a few
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:30 am by Rocky
» Dollar exchange rates against the dinar in Iraqi stock exchanges
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:29 am by Rocky
» Government correspondence to install 8 thousand electricity meter readers
Sun 17 Nov 2024, 4:26 am by Rocky
» utube 11/13/24 MM&C MM&C News-Private Sector- Electronic Payments-Reconstruction-Development-Digit
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:54 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 11/15/24 Update-Budget-Non Oil Resources-CBI-USFED-Cross Border Transfers-Oil
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:53 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani is besieged by lawsuits over the “wiretapping network”... and Al-Maliki heard “inappropria
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:49 am by Rocky
» Tens of thousands of foreigners work illegally in Basra... and the departments will bear the respons
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:47 am by Rocky
» 4 reasons for the Sudanese government’s silence in the face of the factions’ attacks.. Will Baghdad
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:46 am by Rocky
» PM's advisor: Government able to increase spending without inflation or fiscal deficit
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:43 am by Rocky
» Prime Minister stresses the need to complete 2024 projects before the end
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:41 am by Rocky
» Minister of Labor sets date for launching second batch of social protection beneficiaries in the pol
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:40 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani approves 35 new service projects, stresses the need to complete 2024 projects
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:38 am by Rocky
» Minister of Labor: The population census will provide accurate calculations of poor families covered
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:36 am by Rocky
» Electricity announces its readiness for the winter peak
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:35 am by Rocky
» Economist: Parallel market remains pivotal to financing Iraq’s trade with Iran, Syria
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:34 am by Rocky
» Trump: Iraq: A subsidiary or the focus of major deals?
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:32 am by Rocky
» Counselor Mazhar Saleh: The government is able to increase spending without causing inflation or a f
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:30 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani's advisor to "Al-Maalouma": We do not need to bring in foreign workers
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:29 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Rejection.. Parliamentarian Talks About Jordanian Agreement That Harms Iraq’s Economy
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:28 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani chairs the periodic meeting of the service and engineering effort team
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:26 am by Rocky
» Al-Sahaf: Washington continues to support terrorist organizations in Iraq
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:25 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki Coalition: America is trying to make Iraq hostile to its neighbors by violating its airspa
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:24 am by Rocky
» Close source: Al-Sudani failed to convince Al-Hakim and Al-Amiri to carry out the ministerial reshuf
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:23 am by Rocky
» Al-Sayhoud on Postponing Parliament Sessions: Bad Start for Al-Mashhadani
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:22 am by Rocky
» Peshmerga Minister: The survival of the Kurdistan Region depends on the presence of a strong Peshmer
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:21 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki Coalition: US pressures prevent Israel from striking Iraq
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:20 am by Rocky
» Nechirvan Barzani calls for keeping Peshmerga out of partisan conflicts, urges formation of 'strong
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:18 am by Rocky
» US Institute: Trump administration may prevent Iraq from importing Iranian gas as part of pressure o
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:16 am by Rocky
» The meter will visit families again.. Planning details the steps for conducting the population censu
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:15 am by Rocky
» Government clarification: Is Iraq able to increase spending?
Sat 16 Nov 2024, 4:14 am by Rocky