Beirut - The Syrian government is shipping in hundreds of new
fighters to take part in its offensive to capture the last rebel-held
stronghold outside the capital Damascus, a monitoring group said
Wednesday, despite efforts to impose a humanitarian ceasefire.
The United Nations and Red Cross, organizations which delivered a
small aid shipment this week to Eastern Ghouta, have reported a
desperate humanitarian situation, including hunger and shortages of
medicines. People are living underground to avoid airstrikes.
"More than 700 fighters from the Syrian government's allied militias
took new positions on the Eastern Ghouta fronts," the Britain-based
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
"The regime is preparing to continue its offensive hoping for new
advances in the area," Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Observatory,
told dpa.
According to the Observatory 805 civilians, among them 178 children,
were killed in Eastern Ghouta since February 18.
The UN Security Council last month voted for a nationwide ceasefire
which specifically urged parties to the conflict to allow aid into
Eastern Ghouta. However, nearly half the enclave has been taken by
government forces in recent weeks.
The aid shipments made this week were not sufficient for even 10 per
cent of the population and the government reportedly removed vital
supplies, including medical goods. Many of the trucks were unable to
fully unload their contents due to violence.
Russia pledged to let the insurgents and their families leave Eastern
Ghouta, but rebels have been sceptical of the offer from Moscow, a
key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Russian airstrikes are
hitting Eastern Ghouta.