SYRIA: The International Committee of the Red Cross confirms it has evacuated 27 people from Homs

Record ID: 280345

  • Title: SYRIA: The International Committee of the Red Cross confirms it has evacuated 27 people from Homs
  • Date: 27th February 2012
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (FEBRUARY 26, 2012) (REUTERS) RED CROSS BUILDING IN DAMASCUS SIGN OF THE RED CROSS COMMITTEE SALEH DABBAKEH, SPOKESPERSON OF RED CROSS COMMITTEE IN SYRIA, ENTERING OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SALEH DABBAKEH, SPOKESPERSON OF RED CROSS COMMITTEE IN SYRIA, SAYING: "We were able to evacuate seven people that were seriously wounded that needed immediate me
  • Embargoed: 13th March 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic
  • Country: Syria
  • Topics: Conflict,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA5J7TZJHAHZ5VYGJZ0771LW5W9
  • Story Text: The International Committee of Red Cross confirmed on Sunday (February 26) that it had evacuated 27 people from Homs on Friday, and expected to resume its operation in the city on Monday..
    ICRC spokesman in Damascus Saleh Dabbakeh said the evacuees, none of whom were foreign journalists, were evacuated to a nearby hospital.
    "We were able to evacuate seven people that were seriously wounded that needed immediate medical attention. They were brought to a hospital, a nearby hospital. Al-Amin hospital is very close with an agreement of both sides and at the same time we evacuated 20 sick women and children that also needed care and attention - so that's a total of 27," Dabbakeh told Reuters.
    On Sunday, the ICRC said Syrian authorities have yet to respond to a request for a ceasefire to allow more wounded to be evacuated from the Baba Amro district of Homs. Dabbakeh called on both sides for a two-hour cessation in fighting each day.
    "I think tomorrow we will resume and we will try to get in tomorrow. What we would really reach - ideally reach - is this cessation of fighting, this humanitarian pause where fighting stops and we can provide assistance to people. That would be a great thing if we can reach that point I think we will be able to save a lot of people," he said.
    Activists in the besieged and battered district of Baba Amro in Homs say the city has had no food or water for three days.
    With most foreign reporters barred from Syria or heavily restricted, witness reports are hard to verify.
    American correspondent Marie Colvin and French photographer Remi Ochlik were killed in the bombardment of Homs last week and two other Western journalists were wounded. The group is still trapped there despite Red Cross efforts to extricate them.
    END
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