Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Homs (Agenzia Fides) – There is truce between the Syrian army and rebels: after long and difficult negotiations, a cease-fire agreement was reached to allow the release of civilians trapped in Homs. However, say Fides sources in Homs, the evacuation has not started yet because the rebels have not yet given "green light", while local witnesses refer the use of mortar fire on the city this morning. According to the agreement, the truce should last all day today and in the coming days, for two hours a day, in the morning. In the negotiations between the parties involved there is the International Red Cross, Red Crescent and some Christian priests close to the families of the trapped civilians, members of the interfaith movement for reconciliation "Mussalaha". As sources of Fides in Homs say, civilians are around 800 (400 Christians and 400 Muslim Sunni) in the neighborhoods of Hamidiyeh and Bustan Al Diwan, one must also add to this number another thousand of these families, all Muslims, who are in the Khalidiyeh area, but also in Warcheh and Salibi.
Civilians are assisted by some Catholic and Orthodox priests, who wish to facilitate rescue operations. "The truce gives us hope, we now appeal to all so that we can start the long-awaited release of civilians, including women, children under ten in need of care," says to Fides the Greek Catholic priest Fr. Abdallah Amaz, who is in Homs.
From other parts of the city, meanwhile, many families are fleeing, moving mainly to Jaramana, residential area on the outskirts of Homs, a Christian and Druze majority. The Syrian Church has launched an appeal for the assistance of at least 500 families of Christian refugees who fled from Homs in past months, and have found refuge in Marmarita, near the Lebanese border, where everything is being done to provide food, temporary shelter and medical assistance. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 21/6/2012)
