Darya Local Council called upon the parties that brokered the cessation of hostilities agreement to deter the repeated violations by regime forces and to force the regime to comply with UN Security Council resolutions.
In a statement released on Thursday, the council said that regime forces violated once again the cessation of hostilities agreement and the US-Russian brokered “regime of calm,” which was announced in the town on Tuesday. The council added that regime forces have been attempting to storm the town and shelling it with all types of weapons. Regime forces also continue to prevent the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the town which has been under siege by regime forces since 2012.
A rebel commander in Shuhadaa al-Islam Brigade, the main FSA group in the town of Daraya, said that they announced commitment to the “regime of calm” despite breaches by regime forces only minutes after the truce was declared.
President of the Syrian Coalition Anas Alabdah had earlier called upon the European Union to salvage the political process through reviving the cessation of hostilities agreement and playing a more active role in Syria.
Alabdah urged the European Union to play a more active role in Syria as the EU is directly affected by the crises unfolding in Syria and the region. He pointed out that the armed opposition in Syria announced it is committed to the truce with the aim of stopping the bloodshed and alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people.
An aid convoy was refused entry to Daraya in mid-May, the Red Cross said, dashing hopes for the first such delivery since regime forces began a siege of the rebel-held town in 2012.
“We urge the responsible authorities to grant us access to Daraya, so we can return with desperately-needed food & medicines,” the International Committee of the Red Cross said after the convoy was refused entry.
“The UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) aborted the mission to Daraya because the convoy was refused entry, due to the medical and nutritional supplies on board,” the United Nations spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said in a written statement on May 13. “These conditions, imposed by government security personnel, were unacceptable, and contrary to earlier guarantees and approvals obtained by the Syrian government.”
A US-Russian brokered temporary truce, or a “regime of calm,” began in Daraya and eastern Ghouta on Tuesday and was supposed to last for 72 hours. (Source: Syrian Coalition)