Airstrikes hit Eastern Ghouta in Syria as aid arrives

March 9 (UPI) -- Airstrikes targeted a rebel-held area in Eastern Ghouta on Friday at about the same time a convoy of trucks entered the area to deliver humanitarian aid.

Friday's strikes came after a temporary pause in fighting agreed to by both sides to allow relief aid to reach civilians in the area.

More than a dozen trucks carried supplies for more than 10,000 people in the Eastern Ghouta region, the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross said Friday.

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent said it successfully made the deliveries, which also included medical supplies and sanitation items to Afrin, Ad-Dar Al-Kabeera and Eastern Ghouta.

"We will continue our work to deliver more humanitarian aids in cooperation and coordination with the Syrian High Relief Committee," SARC President Khaled Hboubati said.

"We call for all parties to protect our staff in order to fulfill our humanitarian duties and alleviate the suffering of the most vulnerable population."

The United Nations estimates about 400,000 people live in rebel-held areas Eastern Ghouta. At least 931 civilians have been killed since Feb. 18.

On Thursday, the Syrian government opened a new crossing to allow civilians in the besieged enclave to flee from the area.

#BREAKING: @SYRedCrescent,@ICRC & @UN get ready to enter #Eastern_Ghouta again and continue the delivery of Monday's #humanitarian #aid convoy pic.twitter.com/1SFoxqNHsm

- Syrian Red Crescent (@SYRedCrescent) March 9, 2018