MOSCOW, April 23. /TASS/. As many as 1,072 militants and members of their families left during the day the Syrian city of Ruheiba in Eastern Qalamoun with the assistance from the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria, the Russian defense ministry said on Monday.
"The Russian reconciliation center and Russian military police units for the third day have been evacuating militants of illegal armed groups and members of their families from the Eastern Qalamoun reconciliation area via the humanitarian corridor with a checkpoint near the settlement of Ruheiba. During the day, a total of 1,072 militants and their family members used this corridor to leave the area," the ministry said.
According to the ministry, these militants and their family members were taken by 31 buses to the settlement of Qalaat al-Mudiq in the Idlib de-escalation zone. The bus convoy was escorted by Syrian security service patrol and ambulance cars. While leaving the area, militants surrendered 12 pieces of weaponry, 7,500 munitions and 115 hand grenades. In all, as many as 3,922 militants and their family members have left Eastern Qalamoun since April 20.
Works are continued to clear of mines dwelling houses and infrastructure facilities in the city of Douma. "During the day, six houses and household territories were cleared of mines. Ten improvised explosive devices were destroyed," the ministry said.
People continue to return to their homes they had to flee when the war broke out. Thus, as many as 190 Syrians returned throughout the day to their homes in the province of Homs, 530 people returned to the province of Seir ez-Zor, and 344 people returned to Eastern Ghouta.
Ninety Syrians, including 25 children, received medical assistance from Russian military doctors.