Aid teams stood ready on Wednesday to enter the contested Syrian city of Homs to evacuate people trapped and wounded by 10 days of fighting between rebels and forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. Both sides had agreed to a temporary truce, the International Committee of the Red Cross said from Geneva.
Teams from the ICRC and its partner the Syrian Red Crescent were ready to go into Homs as soon as possible, pending final arrangements. "Fighting has been raging for more than 10 days between the Syrian Army and armed opposition groups in several neighbourhoods of Homs city," said Béatrice Mégevand-Roggo, the ICRC's regional head of operations. Pro-opposition Homs residents said rebels and troops were still locked in fierce battles on Wednesday evening in the neighbourhoods the ICRC wanted to enter. "They are still firing mortars and missiles into the city and there is heavy fighting in al Qusour, al Qarabis and al-Khalidiya," said activist Abu Yazen.
Comments
Comments are closed.