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Syria crisis: UN poised for Homs humanitarian operation Syria crisis: First civilians due to leave besieged Homs
(about 7 hours later)
A pause in fighting to evacuate hundreds of civilians from besieged areas of the city of Homs in Syria is expected to begin on Friday. The first group of civilians is due to be evacuated from the besieged city of Homs in Syria, as a pause in fighting has begun.
The ceasefire should also allow long-awaited aid into the worst hit areas. Some 200 people will be picked up by buses, the governor of Homs told the BBC. Up to 3,000 are believed to be trapped in the city.
The UN welcomed reports that a "humanitarian pause" had been agreed with Syrian authorities. Rebels are also expected to back the deal. The UN-negotiated ceasefire between Syrian forces and rebels should also allow aid to reach Homs on Saturday.
Parts of Homs Old City have been under army siege since June 2012 and many areas lie in ruins. Parts of Homs Old City have been under army siege since June 2012.
US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki welcomed the agreement but said an evacuation was "not a substitute for the safe, regular and unfettered delivery of humanitarian assistance". Many neighbourhoods lie in ruins and activists say people have survived on little more than olives for weeks.
"We should not be giving credit to a regime just for providing food for a few days to people who are starving, given that's the right moral thing to do," she said.
"This is something they should have been doing all along."
The situation in besieged districts of Homs was discussed during peace talks in Geneva a week ago.The situation in besieged districts of Homs was discussed during peace talks in Geneva a week ago.
Up to 3,000 civilians are believed to be trapped by the fighting and activists say people have survived on little more than olives for weeks. Another round is due to begin on 10 February and the Syrian government has confirmed it will attend.
Farhan Haq, spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said supplies were positioned on the outskirts of Homs "ready for immediate delivery as soon as the green light was given by the parties for safe passage". 'Ready for delivery'
Farhan Haq, spokesman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, said earlier that supplies were positioned on the outskirts of Homs "ready for immediate delivery as soon as the green light was given by the parties for safe passage".
Aid staff were also on standby, he said.Aid staff were also on standby, he said.
The Syrian foreign ministry said that under the deal - reached between the governor of Homs and the UN resident co-ordinator in Syria - "innocent civilians" would be allowed out of besieged areas.The Syrian foreign ministry said that under the deal - reached between the governor of Homs and the UN resident co-ordinator in Syria - "innocent civilians" would be allowed out of besieged areas.
"We are very happy that finally we found the possibility to bring out these people and to provide those who are needy inside old Homs with humanitarian aid they deserve," Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad said."We are very happy that finally we found the possibility to bring out these people and to provide those who are needy inside old Homs with humanitarian aid they deserve," Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad said.
"The only precondition is that this aid and the help should not go to terrorists or armed groups.""The only precondition is that this aid and the help should not go to terrorists or armed groups."
Although rebels have not made any statement, a BBC correspondent in the region says the Syrian Red Crescent has received positive signals that the deal will go ahead. US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki welcomed the agreement but said an evacuation was "not a substitute for the safe, regular and unfettered delivery of humanitarian assistance".
The Red Crescent told the BBC the hope was for an evacuation to take place on Friday and for supplies to be taken in to remaining civilians the following day. "We should not be giving credit to a regime just for providing food for a few days to people who are starving, given that's the right moral thing to do," she said.
The BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says it has taken many days of detailed negotiations for the deal to be reached. "This is something they should have been doing all along."
In the past, similar plans for an evacuation of civilians have gone off the rails at the last minute.
Homs - Syria's third largest city - has been a key battleground in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.Homs - Syria's third largest city - has been a key battleground in the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad.
Much of the city initially fell under rebel fighters' control, but government forces have since retaken many areas, forcing the opposition into the Old City.Much of the city initially fell under rebel fighters' control, but government forces have since retaken many areas, forcing the opposition into the Old City.
The UN says more than 100,000 people have died since the uprising began.