Ceasefire enables evacuation of civilian population and rebels

The operation to evacuate thousands of civilians and members of rebel forces from eastern Aleppo is underway, reports Patria.

Russian officials state that there are 5,000 rebels and family members involved.

A report from the International Red Cross, which is assisting the civilian population with the evacuation, states that there are about 200 wounded among the population who require special care.

A Reuters reporter on the ground reports that a convoy of 10 ambulances and at least 17 green buses with about 1,000 passengers has departed from the Ramousah district.

Syrian state television states that those leaving eastern Aleppo are opposition fighters. Rebel representatives have stated that civilians who wish to leave can now do so, given the ceasefire and evacuation agreement. Footage of the buses indicates that most passengers are young men.

Earlier attempts to evacuate the wounded failed because the ambulances were fired upon by government forces, resulting in three injuries.

- Thousands of people need to be evacuated, but the highest priority are the wounded, the sick, children, including orphans, said Jan Egeland, humanitarian advisor for Syria at the United Nations.