Syria’s regime sent reinforcements to Eastern Ghouta on Wednesday, tightening the noose around the shrinking rebel enclave hours before a top-level UN meeting on the escalating violence. The blistering onslaught has prompted outrage against the regime, with the United Nations’ human rights chief saying the government was orchestrating an “apocalypse” in Syria. The Russia-backed Syrian army and allied militia launched an offensive on February 18 to retake the last opposition bastion near Damascus. Forty-six aid trucks entered the area on Monday for the first time since the offensive, but had to cut short their deliveries and leave due to heavy bombardment. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged all warring sides to allow aid trucks to return for a planned second delivery to the enclave’s main town of Douma on Thursday.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 07, 2018 12:00 UTC