The United Nations started evacuating hundreds of people from besieged Syrian towns in a rare sign of humanitarian progress that came as tens of thousands of civilians fled fresh fighting.Safe passage was secured for those in need of medical attention from four towns on Wednesday.
Stephane Dujarric said plans were a foot to evacuate about 500 people, including the sick and wounded along with their family members from the four towns.People were evacuated from the rebel-held towns of Zabadani and Madaya near Damascus, and the government-held towns of Foua and Kefraya in northwest Idlib province.
On the outskirts of Madaya, where dozens of residents starved to death last year, seven large white buses were used to take the people out.Dozens of men, women and children got out of the bus and were checked by security officials before boarding once more, the AFP news agency reported.
UN said on Wednesday that at least 40,000 Syrians had fled fighting near Aleppo, a northern city, in recent days as the government pressed an offensive against the opposition despite the truce.