Chief of Main Operational Directorate Colonel General Sergei Rudskoy holds briefing for mass media

The Russian Armed Forces continue working on stabilization of situation in the Syria Arab Republic.
Currentle, the Russian Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria jointly with the Syrian authorities is carrying out a humanitarian operation which is considered to be unprecedented in its scale.
Civilians, militants and their families are being evacuated from the enclave via special humanitarian corridors.
In total, since the humanitarian pauses were introduces, 143,194 people have been evacuated from the Eastern Ghouta, including 105,857 civilians, 13,793 militants and 23,544 members of their families.
The UN representatives and other international organizations supervise the evacuation of civilians. Live broadcasting of the humanitarian operation in the Eastern Ghouta is available on the Russian Ministry of Defence’s official website and Russian state media.
During seven days, there have been no hostilities in the Eastern Ghouta. Main part of the area is under the control of the Syrian government.
People return to peaceful life in the settlements liberated from illegal armed formations. Refugees that fled the area via humanitarian corridors several days ago now are making their way back to Saqba, Kafr-Batna, Bayt-Sawa, Misraba, Modiara and Hazeh. For today, 40,000 people have returned back to their homes.
Residents of the Eastern Ghouta are provided with humanitarian aid by the United Nations (UN) and the Russian Centre for Reconciliation as well. Since the humanitarian pauses were introduced, three UN humanitarian convoys have safely reached the enclave to deliver 445 tons of food and medical supplies, and the bare necessities.
The Russian Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides has delivered 427 tons of food supplies, field kitchens, more than 50,000 litres of bottled waters, 7,200 matrasses and bed linen, and 108,000 food sets.
The humanitarian work is carried out in close cooperation with the UN, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC).
This shows real contribution by the Russian Federation to implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2401.
The humanitarian operation continues.
To avoid wasted victims, the Russian Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides has reached an agreement with the Ahrar al-Asham leaders on withdrawal of its units from Harasta al-Basal.
On March 22-23, 1,872 militants and 3,107 members of their families have been transported via a special humanitarian corridor near police hospital to the Idlib de-escalation zone.
The Syrian police jointly with officers of the Russian Centre for Reconciliation ensured security of the itinerary. The whole route has been preliminary checked for explosives; all rubbles along the way were removed.
In total, 4,979 have left Harasta al-Basal.
Pursuant to the agreement reached with active illegal armed formations in Arbil, Zamalka, Ein-Terma, and Jobar, since March 24 11,478 militants and 20,437 members of their families have been withdrawn from the above settlements via special humanitarian corridors near Arbil and Jobar to the Idlib de-escalation zone.
In order to avoid any provocations and terror attacks en route, the Russian servicemen screened all the buses at the checkpoint for security measures. Over the last four hours they have seized 56 explosive belts and 357 hand grenades at the risk of their own lives.
In total, 31,915 people have left the area now. It is planned to complete withdrawing all illegal armed formations during tomorrow.
Given the reached agreements, militants are to hand over minefield maps and underground tunnels when leaving the settlements. Besides they are to unforcedly clear up buildings, barricades and main traffic routes. The Russian military police is to take control over the objects.
The Russian Centre for Reconciliation supervises the evacuation of civilians from the city of Douma.
In total, 28,495 civilians have left the city of Douma via the Muhayam al-Wafedin humanitarian corridor.
The Russian Centre for Reconciliation has reached an agreement with leaders of illegal armed formations on withdrawal its militants and members of their families from Douma in the near future.
The Russian Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides continues stabilizing situation to enable people to return home in other regions of Syria as well.
As a result, 3,870 people have returned to Aleppo province via the humanitarian corridor near Abu-Duhur and Takk-Sultan from the Idlib de-escalation zone.
The Committee for Governance of the Eastern Territories jointly with the Russian Centre for Reconciliation supervises restoration of critical infrastructure in Deir ez-Zor province. Since last December, 31,171 people have returned back to their homes on the eastern shore of the Euphrates.
The Russian Сentre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides continues working on peaceful settlement of the conflict and stabilizing humanitarian situation in the Syrian Arab Republic.
In total, 2,484 settlements have already joined reconciliation process.
The Russian Centre for Reconciliation has received 234 applications inked by leaders of illegal armed formations claiming to observe the ceasefire regime.
It is to be reminded that the ceasefire regime is valid throughout the country, including the Rukban refugee camp near al-Tanf, and Raqqa, controlled by the USA. However, the American partners take no actions in order to implement the UN Security Council Resolution and stabilize humanitarian situation in the regions above.
Meanwhile, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), there is a humanitarian disaster in Raqqa.
Some 95,000 people returned to the capital of the province to find completely destroyed infrastructure. Residents are denied access to basic utilities and social services. Only one hospital and one maternity hospital are functioning in the city.
There are pressing problems with water supplies as water system does not operate in the city. People usually use the water of the Euphrates. It can cause potential spread of epidemic and infections.
Meanwhile, the city remains full of explosives, nobody make efforts to clear it up. Up to 25 detonations causing civilian casualties are registered every week. According to the UN data, 130 people were killed and 658 wounded by UXO from October 2017 until March 14, 2018.
The Command of the Syrian Democratic Forces and local authorities assigned by the Americans, cannot manage to address the humanitarian issues. Native Arab population suffer repressions, extortions, and forced mobilization. It causes anger among civilians.
On March 25, the native Arab population rebelled in the settlement of al-Mansura 25-km southwest from Raqqa against tyranny of the US-controlled formations that behave like invaders.
Russia urges to open access for international humanitarian organizations and the UN humanitarian convoy to Raqqa and Rukban in order to save lives of the civilians.
Russia believes that its western partners and other parties concerned will assert influence over leaders of illegal armed formations and guarantees the humanitarian aid to be received by people in need as intended.