Civilians stay, no aid sent to Syrian areas

BEIRUT — The Russia-ordered brief humanitarian pause was in effectforaseconddaywednesday in rebel-held Damascus suburbs but no civilians used the corridor manned by Syrian and Russian forces to leave the enclave. Government forces, meanwhile, tried to push their way into the area, setting off ground battles.

Russian President Vladimir Putin blamed the rebels, saying they were preventing civilians from leaving the area known as eastern Ghouta, and suggested Russia would not “endlessly tolerate” the situation there.

Russia has ordered a five-hour daily humanitarian pause to allow civilians to exit the region that started Tuesday. But no humanitarian aid has gone in and no civilians have left. Residents said they do not trust the truce and the U.N. and aid agencies criticized the unilateral arrangement, saying it gave no guarantees of safety for residents wishing to leave.

The limited pause came after a U.N. Security Council resolution that called for a nationwide 30-day cease-fire that failed to take hold. While the relentless bombing has somewhat subsided in the region, home to around 400,000 civilians, the Syrian government’s push to squeeze the insurgents out of the region continued.

On Wednesday, the European Union demanded that Russia, Iran and Turkey take responsibility for ensuring that the fighting stops in Syriaandthatareal30-dayhaltin fighting be respected.

Opposition activists said Wednesday’s five-hour pause in eastern Ghouta was preceded by a barrage of airstrikes in the towns of Harasta and Douma, where Syrian troops and allied militia trying to push ahead with a ground offensive on a numberoffrontsfromtheeastand west clashed with local insurgent groups.