Damascus, Feb 22 (IANS): Syrian forces have evacuated 30 families from a rebel-held area in eastern Damascus, media reported Sunday.
Around 80 people of 30 families left the bastion of Douma in the eastern countryside of the capital city, seeking refuge in the government-controlled areas due to the difficult living conditions in the rebel-held area, Xinhua reported.
According to sources, the families were taken to temporary shelters in Qudsaya city and were provided with all basic services and necessities.
The people had fled from the clutches of "the the extremist rebels, who had taken the civilians as human shields," the sources added.
Last month, around 5,000 people, mostly women and children, were secured by the Syrian forces out of Douma and nearby areas into shelters inside Damascus.