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27Jan14

Estimated 500 families may be able to leave Syrian city

The United Nations and Arab League Special Envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, says he hopes an exodus of women and children from the Syrian city of Homs will begin on Monday. An estimated 500 families have been trapped in and around the city -- stranded without food or medicine for the past few months.

This unverified, amateur footage purports to show the shattered city of Homs-evidence perhaps of the extent of the destruction from Syria's three-year civil war.

For unarmed civilians trapped by sometimes savage house-to-house fighting, it has been a purgatory from which there has been no escape.

"We want Geneva to break the siege and get us out of here. I need an operation on my leg. We've had enough."

"We fill our stomach with stones, because we don't have food or water anymore, says this man. We worry about the wounded-those who've lost a leg, a hand or an eye. We want care for these people."

Speaking on Sunday in Geneva - the man mediating peace talks between Syrian government officials and opposition rebels - held out hope that an exodus could be underway within hours.

"Hopefully, starting tomorrow women and children will be able to leave the old city in Homs. And I hope that the rest of the civilians will be able to leave soon after that." Said Lakhdar Brahimi, UN-Arab League Envoy to Syria.

Hopes for an aid convoy going into this ancient city are also high but with conditions.

Only if it's safe and if it can be guaranteed the aid doesn't go to what the Syrian government calls "terrorists" - the loose coalition of rebel brigades inside Homs.

[Source: Xinhua, Beijing, 27Jan14]
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