The Eastern Ghouta “humanitarian pause” breaks down before it starts

Fighting continued Tuesday in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta, amid reciprocal recriminations, during the first daily five-hour “pause” ordered by the Assad government’s ally Russia. Opposition activists reported that the Syrian government’s air and artillery bombardment continued, while Russia accused the rebels of shelling the “humanitarian corridor” supposed to have opened up at the same time. The UN was therefore unable to deliver aid or carry out medical evacuations. Nearly 400,000 beleaguered civilians remain trapped.