Syria: Government forces split Eastern Ghouta March 11 /update 5

Event

Syrian government forces continued their advance into Eastern Ghouta on Sunday, March 11, splitting the opposition-controlled suburb of Damascus into three areas and encircling two cities, Douma and Harasta. The move has reportedly cut a primary opposition supply route in the area. As of Monday, March 12, at least 1170 people have been killed and some 4485 others wounded since the government escalated its bombardment of the opposition enclave since February 18, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR).

Notably, thousands of families in the area have fled to Douma, fomenting a "catastrophic" humanitarian situation in the city, according to local opposition officials. Continued fighting is expected in Eastern Ghouta and elsewhere in Syria in the coming weeks despite the UN ceasefire.

Context

Syrian government forces began to escalate their aerial bombing campaign of Eastern Ghouta on February 18. The Ghouta area is one of the last strongholds of Syrian opposition fighters in the Damascus region. Some 400,000 inhabitants are reportedly trapped in the enclave.

According to the UN Security Council, the agreed-upon ceasefire is in effect across Syria, except in areas where armed forces are fighting the Islamic State (IS), Hay'at Tahrir Al-Sham (Al-Nusra Front), and Al-Qa'ida-allied militants, among other designated terror groups. Despite the official ceasefire, numerous violations have been reported.

Advice

Due to extremely poor security conditions, Western governments generally advise against all travel to Syria, with some banning travel to the country. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to any travel to Syria.