Two years after closing the Wafideen crossing, the regime has allowed some besieged families to leave Eastern Ghouta through the crossing.
In an exclusive interview, one of the citizens who left Ghouta said that they were treated well when they crossed the checkpoint, and that some of them remained in a shelter until their situation is settled before they reach Damascus.
Sources said that facilitating the departure of this small number of people was supervised by members of the reconciliation committee and a number of security forces. The source confirmed that about 60 families were allowed to leave Eastern Ghouta over the last two days.
Four days ago, a large number of families from Zebdine town in Eastern Ghouta were allowed to cross the regime checkpoint. Some families were targeted when they were trying to cross the same checkpoint the following day. The regime accused the military factions of preventing people from leaving the town in order to use them as human shields, while these factions denied the charge and confirmed that the regime is responsible for targeting the civilians who want to leave the town.
Despite the optimism raised by this development, there are questions about this new policy pursued by the regime, which still insists on the closure of all crossings when it comes to food and medicines urgently needed in Eastern Ghouta.
There has been a huge rise in prices and major disturbances in the region due to the closure of the Wafideen crossing a month and a half ago.
Abdul Hakim, a vegetable seller in one of the towns of Ghouta, asked: "How would people not prefer to leave if the price of a kilo of sugar is about 3,000 SP, and the price of a pack of cigarettes is about 2,000 SP?"
While he stressed that he does not trust the regime, at the same time, he said, "what can make people tolerate more if there is nothing left but death?"
Translated and edited by The Syrian Observer
