Syrian government evacuates 5,000 civilians: Red Cross

Geneva, Jan 1: Syrian authorities have evacuated 5,000 civilians from the besieged town in north-east of

, the international Committee of the

(ICRC) said in a statement Tuesday.

According to the statement, the Syrian authorities have facilitated approximately 5,000 civilians to leave Adra, where the Al Qaeda-linked groups killed state servants and people from different minority groups which largely support President Bashar al-Assad's administration, Xinhua reported.

With the help of ICRC and Syrian Arab Crescent, the evacuated civilians have received emergency relief, including food and water.

"All parties must ensure that the civilians remaining in Adra and in other towns and villages where fighting is taking place are protected from the dangers of hostilities," said Robert Zimmerman, deputy head of the ICRC delegation in Syria, adding proper medical treatment for the sick and the wounded should be emphasised.

The Red Cross urged all parties to the conflict must allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief intended for civilians.

500,000 civilians have been wounded in Syria crisis, the ICRC reported earlier this month.

IANS