Eastern Ghouta bloodshed: Syria ‘humanitarian pause’ announced by Russia takes effect

Moscow said the measure was meant to create a window for some of the estimated 400,000 people living in the area to evacuate.

A humanitarian “pause” announced by Russia in a bid to stem the bloodshed in Syria’s rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta took effect Tuesday at 9:00 am (0700 GMT).

Damaged cars and buildings are seen in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta. (Reuters Photo)

An AFP correspondent in the main town of Douma reported only sporadic rocket fire overnight. The daily “pause” Moscow announced on Monday is due to last until 2:00 pm (1200 GMT).

Moscow said the measure was meant to create a window for some of the estimated 400,000 people living in the area to evacuate, using safe passages.

Syrian children and adults receive treatment for a suspected chemical attack at a makeshift clinic on the rebel-held village of al-Shifuniyah in the Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus.

The intense bombardment by the Syrian regime and Moscow of the enclave, which lies just east of Damascus, has killed more than 550 civilians in nine days, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.