The Syrian government and rebel forces agreed to a temporary truce to allow civilians to evacuate the city of Homs, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross. Hundreds of civilians have been trapped in the city without access to shelter, food or water as fighting raged around them.

Despite repeated efforts, aid workers from the ICRC and their local counterparts, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, so far have been unable to reach the civilians to facilitate the evacuation or provide assistance. However, the aid teams are nonetheless on standby, waiting for the opportunity to do so. Hundreds of civilians have been killed in the city as a result of heavy shelling by government forces. — CN

BBC News:

Homs has been at the centre of the 15-month revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

Beatrice Megevand-Roggo, the ICRC’s regional head of operations, said fighting had been raging for more than 10 days in parts of the city.

“Hundreds of civilians are stuck in the old city, unable to leave and find refuge in safer areas,” she said.

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