The Syrian regime is allowing emergency medical cases out of besieged Eastern Ghouta in return for the release of prisoners ABDULMONAM EASSA/AFP/GETTY IMAGESEvacuations have begun from the besieged Syrian district of Eastern Ghouta under a delicate deal brokered between rebels and the Assad regime and overseen by Russia and Turkey. Critically ill people are being swapped one-for-one with prisoners held by the main rebel group controlling the area. Last week 494 people were listed by the UN as needing urgent medical care but only 29 have been approved by the Syrian government. One of them, Katr Alnada, aged six months, died before the evacuation began. “We have tried for many months to get medical evacuations out and food and other supplies…

Source: The Times December 28, 2017 00:00 UTC