12/02/2014 10:05
Syria conflict: UN hopes to resume Homs evacuation
Aid agencies are hoping to resume the evacuation of civilians from Syria's besieged city of Homs, a day after the operation was suspended, the BBC reported.
Hundreds of civilians remain trapped in the Old City - a hub of the revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.
There are also concerns about the safety of scores of men and boys held by the authorities for screening after leaving Homs earlier.
More than 1,100 people have fled the city since Friday under a truce.
Homs, in western Syria, has been under siege for 18 months by government troops.
Meanwhile, little progress was reported on the second day of talks on Tuesday between Syrian government and opposition delegations in Geneva, Switzerland.
The aid agencies said they would make a further attempt to evacuate Homs civilians on Wednesday.
Despite the continuing violence and danger to aid teams on the ground, "it is critical that this continues", UN Humanitarian co-ordinator Yacoub el Hillo told the BBC.
He added that after "spending a day in the Old City under fire I came out and I said it was a day in hell."
"But the people living inside the Old City go through this every day. So, do we do something about it or do we wait? No, we do!"
The evacuation on Tuesday was delayed by a day because of what UN and Syrian officials said were logistical reasons.
"The evacuation of civilians and delivery of food aid will continue tomorrow morning," Talal Barazi, the governor of Homs, told the AFP news agency.
A truce agreed until Wednesday night could be extended if necessary, he added.