Ceasefire begins in Syria

On Friday morning, a four-day ceasefire to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha went into effect in Syria. The violence had not let up Thursday evening, when a Syrian government artillery barrage was reported in the Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood in Damascus.The ceasefire has been proposed by the joint UN-Arab League envoy for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the planned truce.
"While the Secretary-General is welcoming these reported announcements, it's important that all sides will adhere to this,” said UN spokesman, Martin Nesirky. “We will understand that there is a lack of trust between parties therefore we all understand that we cannot be sure yet what will transpire but the hope is that the guns will fall quiet for the people of Syria so that they can have peace and quiet during this holy holiday."
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said it is ready to send thousands of pre-positioned emergency aid packages to families in previously inaccessible areas of Syria.
"In all, some 550 tonnes of supplies are being made available for distribution to up to 13,000 affected families – some 65,000 people – in several previously inaccessible areas," a UNHCR press release said on Thursday.
However, relief agencies are being cautious, since both sides have qualified their support for the ceasefire. The main opposition group the Free Syrian Army is demanding the regime free detainees, and a spokesman said some individual units will decide for themselves whether or not to back the truce. The government, while officially backing the initiative, said it reserved the right to respond to rebel attacks of any kind.
The United Nations is calling on those with influence in the region to use it on all parities, so that a permanent suspension of violence can take place and pave the way for a political solution to the crisis in Syria.
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