Members of the Syrian opposition have agreed to free 1,500 families being held in Adra in exchange for food and the release of jailed opponents of President Bashar al Assad, AFP reports.
The first phase would involve a family of eight being released in exchange for food for civilians in Adra. Afterwards, “the exchange would involve the release of one family held hostage in Adra per each detainee released” from government jails, according to AFP.
Adra is located on the northeastern entrance to Damascus. The edges are currently under government control but the inside of the town is in the hands of the opposition.
Syrian rebels took the town in mid-December and prevented thousands of residents from leaving. An activist on the ground said he could not confirm the deal, but was adamant that the humanitarian situation was serious.
