The News (New Glasgow)

Humanitari­an pause

Violence rages in Syria as UN calls to stop ‘hell on Earth’

- BY BASSEM MROUE AND JAMEY KEATEN

Syrian forces launched a ground offensive Monday on a rebel-held eastern Damascus suburb despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding a 30-day cease-fire across Syria. The UN chief denounced the violence in the embattled region, describing it as “hell on Earth.”

The offensive was accompanie­d by airstrikes that killed at least 14 people, according to opposition activists, and the new fighting in eastern Ghouta did not bode well for the resolution adopted over the weekend at the United Nations.

There was a relative calm in the besieged area in the immediate aftermath of the resolution, which was unanimousl­y approved Saturday by the 15-member council. It demands a 30-day truce in all of Syria but excludes fighting with the Islamic State group and al-Qaida-linked fighters.

However, violence has since picked up with 28 people in the area killed in airstrikes and bombardmen­ts Sunday and Monday, activists said.

Russian news agencies said Monday that President Vladimir Putin has ordered a daily “humanitari­an pause” in eastern Ghouta between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to allow residents to leave if they want.

Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said in a statement the pauses will start as of today. He said Russia will work to create a “humanitari­an corridor” to help evacuate civilians but said the location has not been decided yet.

Shoigu also mentioned a refugee camp in Tanf, near the border with Iraq which is “under U.S. control” — where Russia is also suggesting calling for a humanitari­an pause, as well.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to the warring sides to abide by the cease-fire. Speaking at the start of a session of the UN-backed Human Rights Council, the comments were his first remarks to the UN body since the resolution was adopted.

“Eastern Ghouta cannot wait,” he said. “It is high time to stop this hell on Earth.”

Guterres said he welcomes the resolution but added that council resolution­s “are only meaningful if they are effectivel­y implemente­d.” He added that he expects the “resolution to be immediatel­y implemente­d and sustained” and also called for safe, unimpeded and sustained delivery of humanitari­an aid and services, as well as evacuation­s of the sick and wounded.

 ?? AP PHOTO ?? A Lebanese woman holds a placard during a protest in solidarity with residents of the Syrian capital’s eastern suburb of Ghouta, in front the Russian embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.
AP PHOTO A Lebanese woman holds a placard during a protest in solidarity with residents of the Syrian capital’s eastern suburb of Ghouta, in front the Russian embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.

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