Footage shows civilian evacuation in E. Ghouta

ANKARA

Footage captured by an Anadolu Agency drone in Eastern Ghouta, a Damascus suburb besieged by Bashar al-Assad regime forces, shows mass destruction.

Frequent bombings have destroyed entire apartment blocks, which lie in rubbles, in Arbin district, where the video was shot.

The area is deserted, apart from a few civilians who are trying to flee.

Some are loading their belongings on motorcycles, cars vans, plying the road.

The footage shows a few mosques which survived the regime attacks. However, the minaret of one mosque has collapsed, lying precariously on its dome.

A fountain on a crossroad is the only structure that looks undamaged.

Starting March 22, the evacuations in Harasta, Arbin, Zamalka, and Ein Tarma districts in Eastern Ghouta come as part of a Russia-brokered deal between the regime and the armed opposition groups. Harasta has been evacuated.

More than 11,000 people -- including opposition fighters and their families -- have been evacuated from Eastern Ghouta.

In late February, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution for in Syria -- especially in Eastern Ghouta -- to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid.

Despite the cease-fire, the regime and its allies early this month launched a major ground offensive -- backed by Russian air power -- aimed at capturing opposition-held parts of the district.

Since Feb. 19, more than 1,000 people have reportedly been killed in attacks by the regime and its allies in Eastern Ghouta.

Home to some 400,000 civilian residents, the district has remained under a crippling regime siege for the last five years that has prevented the delivery of badly-needed humanitarian supplies.

Reporting by Selen Temizer and Mohammad Misto; Writing by Cansu Dikme