Homs hopes for relief during “humanitarian pause”

A week after the situation in besieged districts of Homs was discussed at peace talks in Geneva, Syria's state news agency Sana said agreement has been reached to allow aid in and safe passage out for civilians.

The Syrian government and rebels fighting to topple Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad reached an agreement on allowing humanitarian aid to reach the besieged city of Homs. Yazan Homsy / Reuters

DAMASCUS // Aid operations were due to start in besieged areas of Homs on Friday, a US official said, as Syria and the UN agreed to hold a “humanitarian pause” on fighting in the devastated city.

The agreement came as an NGO said more than 250 people have died in regime barrel-bomb attacks on Aleppo, with UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon condemning the assault.

A week after the situation in besieged districts of Homs was discussed at peace talks in Geneva, state news agency Sana said agreement has been reached to allow aid in and safe passage out for civilians.

“Homs Governor Talal al-Barazi and UN resident coordinator Yaacoub El Hillo have reached an agreement securing the exit of innocent civilians from the Old City and the entrance of humanitarian assistance for civilians who choose to stay,” it said.

The UN announced there would be a “humanitarian pause”, with spokesman Farhan Haq citing UN under secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief Valerie Amos.

The deal clears the way for delivering lifesaving supplies for about 2,500 trapped civilians, with activists saying people have survived on little more than olives for weeks.

Sana said “the relevant Syrian authorities will implement the deal by providing the necessary humanitarian assistance”.

State department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: “We understand the operations will begin tomorrow, Friday morning, and will include a local humanitarian pause while the evacuations take place and while the food and other humanitarian assistance is delivered.”

Rebel-held districts in Homs have come under nearly daily shelling since the army blockaded them in June 2012.

Among the besieged residents are at least 1,200 women, children and elderly people, the Britain-based Observatory says.

In Geneva, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said food and supplies had been placed on the outskirts of Homs but they would not be delivered until safety is assured.

“They’re not going to travel by night, but the agreement for delivery is there, and that is what we are welcoming,” OHCHR spokesman Jens Laerke said.

“You may only hear about the actual delivery when it has taken place. And that is simply to ensure the safety of our staff.”

In Aleppo, meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory said more than 250 people have been killed in six days of regime barrel-bomb attacks, as a coalition of rebels announced a new military operation in the province.

Agence France-Presse