Syria conflict: Putin orders Eastern Ghouta 'humanitarian pause'

Russia's President Vladimir Putin has ordered a daily pause in the assault by its ally, the Syrian government, on the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta area.It will start on Tuesday, and include the creation of a "humanitarian corridor" to allow civilians to leave.The rebel enclave near Damascus, where 393,000 civilians are trapped, has been under intense bombardment by government forces with Russian support.More than 550 people have been killed in eight days, a monitoring group says.Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu made the announcement about the "humanitarian pause", saying it would run from 09:00 until 14:00 local time (07:00-12:00 GMT) daily.He said more details on the corridor would be released soon.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously called for a nationwide 30-day cessation of hostilities on Saturday.The resolution demanded that "all parties cease hostilities without delay" to allow aid deliveries and medical evacuations.Russia had been accused of delaying the UN vote for several days by asking for changes to be made to the draft.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has described the situation in the Eastern Ghouta as "hell on Earth", and demanded immediate action.

What is the aim of the UN resolution?

The UN resolution applies to the whole of Syria, although the focus is on stopping government attacks on the Eastern Ghouta.

Image captionRawaa has been living in a basement with around 75 others for months

Rebels in the enclave would also have to stop firing shells into government-controlled Damascus, an act that has also killed civilians.The resolution allows operations against groups that the UN regards as terrorists - including the jihadist groups Islamic State (IS), al-Qaeda and associated entities - to continue.On Sunday, air strikes by a US-led multinational coalition against IS killed at least 10 civilians in the eastern province of Deir al-Zour, according to activists.

What is happening now in the Eastern Ghouta?

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, said 31 people have been killed in the enclave since UN resolution passed.On Monday, 17 people were killed in air and artillery strikes on the towns of Douma and Harasta, it said.The Syria Civil Defence, a rescue organisation whose volunteers operate in a number of rebel-held areas, said nine civilians had been killed in a strike on one building in Douma.Casualties were also reported following what the opposition newspaper Enab Baladi reported was a ground offensive by pro-government forces that rebels repelled.The official Sana news agency meanwhile cited police as saying a civilian had been injured in the government-controlled Qassa area of Damascus by shells fired by Eastern Ghouta rebels.