Aleppo citadel Syrian flag
Et hold fra RT var blandt de første som talte med beboerne i Aleppo som var evakueret efter at have tilbragt måneder fanget i de militant besatte dele af byen. Beboerne havde næsten ingen mad eller vand, og blev fortalt af de militante at de ville blive dræbt hvis de forsøgte at flygte.

RT har modtaget førstehands beretninger beskrivende uhyrlighederne og de lidelser som de lokale i Aleppo fandt sig overfor efter at byen faldt i hænderne på terroristerne. Folk sultede, havde ingen vand og blev med magt forhindret i at løbe væk.

"Vi har været i en meget miserabel situation. For fire måneder ingen brød, ingen vand, vi har været meget dårligt behandlet. Men takket være Allah, da hæren kom, bevægede vi os hertil, fortalte en beboer evakueret fra distriktet ved den gamle bydel i Aleppo, til RT.

"Vi forsøgte to gange tidligere at flygte, men de [militante] truede os med våben og tvang os tilbage," sagde han.



Kommentar: Denne artikel er blot delvis oversat til dansk af sott.net fra: Aleppo residents: 'Militants held us at gunpoint, withheld food and water'


Those who were finally liberated say they are hugely grateful to the Syrian government soldiers who freed them, with many looking forward to being reunited with their families after becoming separated.

Another resident came to meet his 13 family members, whom he hasn't seen for five years as they were trapped in the rebel-held part of Aleppo.

"I can't explain my feelings, I'm so grateful to the Syrian Army, from generals to soldiers, they've done so much for our country" he said, waiting for his relatives to arrive.

Another man, who also came to meet a relative, said that "the Syrian Army has brought relief to its citizens."

"My family tried to escape, but the militants stopped them. The militants were shelling ordinary people preventing them from leaving. But thanks to Allah, the Syrian Army is helping my family to get out of there," he added.

As the Syrian troops that have already retaken more than two thirds of Aleppo continue their offensive, more and more people are expected to need humanitarian assistance.

Russian philanthropist Elizaveta Glinka, also known as Dr. Liza, who received a Russian award for human rights and charity work on Wednesday, announced her plans to go to Syria to help deal with the crisis.

"Like other humanitarian volunteers, we are never sure if we are going to come back home alive, because war is hell on Earth. And I know what I'm talking about," Dr. Liza said, also commemorating Russian health workers who were recently killed in Syria.

In response, President Vladimir Putin, who was handing out the award, supported Glinka's initiative to lift all unnecessary restrictions on the supplies of medical equipment and drugs, especially on those sent to conflict zones.

"People are deprived of simple medical aid, especially during war, and civilians and unfortunately children suffer most," Putin said.

On Wednesday, the Russian military said that more than 1,200 civilians fled militant-held areas of Aleppo and were provided with water, food, and medical assistance at humanitarian centers set up by Russia in the neighborhoods controlled by the government.