Six hundred people were forced to leave rebel-held central Homs on Sunday after more than a year of hunger and deprivation caused by one of the most protracted blockades of Syria's devastating conflict, the Associated Press.
The evacuees consisted of mostly of women, children and old men, the AP reported. They were brought out by the United Nations and Syrian Red Crescent on the third day of an operation during which the aid convoys came under fire and were briefly trapped themselves in the city.
Video footage from inside Homs showed scores of residents, carrying a few bags of possessions, rushing across an open expanse of no-man's land towards 10 white vehicles with U.N. markings with gunshots in the background, according to the AP.
The Red Crescent confirmed that around 600 people were evacuated and said 60 food parcels and more than a ton of flour were delivered to the Old City, according to the AP. Barazi and Red Crescent officials said they were working to extend the operation beyond Sunday.
Currently, authorities suspect all men of fighting age to be part of rebel forces fighting to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, the AP reported.
Assad's authorities and rebel fighters have traded accusations of responsibility for attacks on Saturday which targeted a convoy as relief workers were handing over food and medical supplies in the district on Saturday, according to the AP. The Red Crescent said one driver was lightly wounded but the rest of the team eventually left safely.