Aid workers were today in a race against time to evacuate hundreds of civilians from the besieged Syrian city of Homs after the rescue effort was suspended.
More than 1,100 people have fled the city since a temporary truce between rival fighters was declared on Friday.
But with the “humanitarian pause” set to end by tomorrow, the fate of hundreds more still stuck in the Old City, a heritage site that has been reduced to rubble by months of shelling and gunfire, remains uncertain.
UN local aid chief Yacoub El Hillo told the BBC it was “crucial” that the operation continued, describing his visit to Homs as like a “day in hell”.
Aid workers blamed logistical problems for yesterday’s suspension of the evacuation as they discussed how to bring desperately needed food and medicine into the Old City.
Homs governor Talal Barazi said the temporary truce could be extended further if necessary.
UN agencies voiced concern over the fate of dozens of men who were taken in by Syrian security personnel after they fled Homs.
Meanwhile diplomatic efforts to end the suffering today appeared no closer to a breakthrough with Russia declaring it would veto a UN resolution on humanitarian aid access in Syria in its current form.
Moscow denounced the draft as paving the way for military strikes against President Bashar al-Assad’s government.
The civil conflict has claimed more than 100,000 lives since 2011 and has driven 9.5 million people from their homes.
