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Over 300 Syrians leave southwestern de-escalation zone over part day

Apart from that as many as 73,053 civilians have returned to Eastern Ghouta from camps for refugees and internally displaced persons, with 118 people returning to their homes in the past day alone

MOSCOW, July 22. /TASS/. More than 300 people left Syria’s southwestern de-escalation zone via the Kafer Chams checkpoint over the past day, chief of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of the Opposing Parties in Syria Alexei Tsygankov said on Sunday.

"Civilians continue to leave territories controlled by militants via humanitarian corridors. Thus, as many as 311 Syrians were evacuated via the Kafer Chams checkpoint throughout the past day. At the checkpoint, they were offered hot meals, medical services and articles of daily necessity," he said.

Apart from that, in his words, as many as 73,053 civilians have returned to Eastern Ghouta from camps for refugees and internally displaced persons, with 118 people returning to their homes in the past day alone. "Thanks to joint efforts of the Syrian and Russian sides, refugees from Lebanon have returned to the cities of Flitah, Maudamiyat al-Sham, Jeba, Assal al-Ward, and Yabroud. As many as 315 Syrians have already returned to these cities," he said.

However, militants in the Idlib de-escalation zone continue mortar and artillery shelling of populated localities and positions of government troops in violation of the ceasefire. "In the past day, the settlements of Ikko, Kellaz, Safsafa and Kinsibba in the province of Latakia, and Aleppo’s Handrat and Makanis al-Duwairi neighborhoods came under shelling," Tsygankov said, adding that over the weekend militant’s drones had been downed two times near the Hmeymim airbase.

According to the Russian reconciliation center chief, the humanitarian situation in the Idlib de-escalation zone is very difficult. Meanwhile, reconciliation talks are continued with the elder of populated localities and leaders of illegal armed groups in the southwestern de-escalation zone.

"As a result, one anti-aircraft gun, one portable anti-tank grenade launcher, eleven unver-barrel grenade launchers, one anti-tank rifle, 17 radio stations, 54 hand grenades and a big amount of various munitions were surrendered over the day," Tsygankov noted.

Eight Syrians, including four children, received medical assistance from Russian military doctors.

Russian reconciliation center

The Russian reconciliation center continues to fulfill assigned tasks after the completion of the military campaign in Syria. The center’s officers regularly travel around the country's liberated areas to assess the humanitarian situation. The main efforts of the Russian military are now focused on assistance to the refugees returning to their homes and evacuation of civilians from de-escalation zones.