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March 8 (UPI) -- The Syrian government opened a new designated crossing area Thursday to allow civilians in the besieged enclave of Eastern Ghouta to leave the area. The "humanitarian corridor" leads to al-Malihah town via the road of Jisreen-Malihah east of the capital of Damascus, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported.
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Authorities also brought ambulances and buses to transport civilians out of the area to makeshift centers.
Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad took control of nearly half of Eastern Ghouta on Wednesday, essentially cutting off one half of the enclave from the other.
About 400,000 people remain trapped in eastern Ghouta and about 700 civilians were reportedly killed in the region in the past two weeks.
Civilians were expected to evacuate the area Thursday after 10 days of failed attempts to transport them through the first crossing area in Wafidin.
