Civilians flee besieged Eastern Ghouta as Syrian government prepares for final assault

As Syrian war enters its eighth year, monitors say more than 500,000 people have died and 10 million left homeless

Civilians in Eastern Ghouta have begun to flee to government-controlled areas as fighting intensifies in the besieged rebel enclave of Damascus, a heavy blow to opposition forces on the same day Syria marks the seventh anniversary of its bloody civil war.

Thousands of people carrying blankets and suitcases streamed along a dirt road out of the Eastern Ghouta town of Hammouriyeh in footage broadcast by a pro-government TV channel on Thursday.

The army said it has now reclaimed 70 per cent of the district’s rebel-held towns and farms, carving up the area into three pockets as it pushes on with a final ground assault.

“They are burning Ghouta to the ground,” said Anas al-Dimashqi, a media activist and resident of Kafr Batna, as first responders reported intense Russian and Syrian air strikes on several towns which now mark the edges of the besieged zone.

Monitors said around 12,000 people had crossed over into government territory – the first significant movement of people out of the area in six years.

“We are afraid for them,” said student Mahmoud Bwedany, who said he did not want to leave for fear of the uncertainty of what will happen to him if he crossed the siege barriers.

“We’re afraid for their lives and how they might be treated.”

At the same time civilians fled Hammouriyeh, a third shipment of desperately needed aid reached Douma city, in the heart of the opposition-held enclave.

The International Committee of the Red Cross convoy carried enough food for 26,000 people for one month, although as with other shipments, government inspectors removed several items, including medical supplies, before the 25 trucks were allowed to move.

While around 100 people were medically evacuated from the region on Tuesday, Damascus and Moscow have effectively ignored a 25 February UN resolution demanding a cessation in hostilities.

The exodus of people comes almost a month after Syrian President Bashar al Assad’s forces launched the ferocious assault on the district of rebel-held towns and farms.

The area is supposedly one of four de-escalation zones created in May 2017 in an agreement brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran to quell fighting between rebel forces and the regime, but Mr Assad says al-Qaeda backed fighters in the area are not covered by the deal.

More than 1,200 people have been killed in air strikes and shelling since 18 February and at least 6,000 injured in one of the worst episodes of violence in Syria’s civil war to date.

Illegal napalm, chlorine and barrel bomb munitions have all been dropped on the area, locals say, although Damascus and Moscow deny the claims.

Eastern Ghouta has been besieged by government forces since 2012, but in recent months the siege has been tightened, leaving the estimated 393,000 civilians inside with dwindling food and medical supplies.

Many families have taken to their basements and tunnels previously used for smuggling to try and avoid the bombs and rockets. Many are ill from lack of food and the damp conditions, local doctors say.

Rebels in Ghouta have retaliated with some of the worst rocket attacks on Damascus in years.

15 March marks the seventh anniversary of the Syrian civil war. What was once a peaceful uprising against an authoritarian ruler has morphed into a multi-sided conflict that has drawn in proxy powers, left 500,000 people dead and more than 10 million homeless.

Opposition factions in Eastern Ghouta have vowed to keep fighting but as in several other episodes of urban warfare in Syria it is likely they will be forced to accept an amnesty which will see fighters and their families bussed to northeastern Idlib province, the last rebel stronghold.