23 Mar 2018 10:13

Total of 6,500 people return to Syria's E. Ghouta as situation in enclave stabilizes - Russian Defense Ministry

HMEIMIM. March 23 (Interfax-AVN) - As many as 6,500 people have returned to two populated localities retaken from militants in Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"The situation in Eastern Ghouta is stabilizing. Civilians are returning to populated localities liberated from militants. These people include those who exited [Eastern Ghouta] via humanitarian corridors three or four days ago," Maj. Gen. Yury Yevtushenko, head of the Russian center for reconciliation of the opposing sides in Syria, said on Thursday night.

A total of 6,500 people have returned to their homes in the localities of Kafr Batna and Saqba, he said.