Rouba El-Husseini
Three years after Syrian government retook control of the flashpoint southern province of Daraa, the country's forces have clashed with rebels again, trapping thousands of civilians in the crossfire.
Nearly half of the population of the rebel-held Daraa al-Balad district have fled heavy shelling and ground battles, but the United Nations warns that remaining civilians are cut off with dwindling supplies.
On Thursday, the UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said civilians were suffering from "acute shortages" of food, fuel, water and medicines in a "near siege-like" situation.
"The situation is alarming," Pedersen said.
- Why is Daraa important? -
Daraa, which borders Jordan and is close to the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, is widely seen as the cradle of the 2011 uprising in Syria, which sparked a decade-long civil war that has killed almost half a million people.
In 2011, young boys who had scrawled graffiti against President Bashar al Assad were detained in Daraa, sparking nationwide protests.
After the demonstrations evolved into war, rebels seized control.
The rebels hung on until 2018. But after weeks of deadly fighting, with the support of Russia forces the government retook control under a surrender deal.
Moscow had brokered similar so-called "reconciliation" accords in Syria's second city of Aleppo, as well the Eastern Ghouta region, outside the capital Damascus.
Under those deals, rebels handed over their heavy weapons and left on buses. But in Daraa, many former opposition fighters stayed behind.
While some did switch sides and join the government forces, others kept their guns and maintained control over several areas.
In the provincial capital, Daraa city, the government forces returned to the northern half, known as Daraa al-Mahatta.
But the southern half, Daraa al-Balad, remained under rebel control.
- What sparked the fighting now? -
Since the 2018 "reconciliation" deal, Daraa province has seen regular explosions and hit-and-run attacks.
During presidential elections in May -- a vote widely criticised by Syria's opposition -- protesters in Daraa al-Balad took to the streets.
The election was held only in the two-thirds of Syria under government control, and there were no ballot boxes in Daraa al-Balad.
After Assad celebrated winning his fourth term in power, he vowed to return all of Syria to state control.
Residents and activists believe the government wants "revenge".
"Many people in Daraa al-Balad are wanted by the governement," said activist Omar al-Hariri.
- Which forces are involved? -
In late July, some of the fiercest clashes to rock the province since the government forces returned left 32 dead, including 12 civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
The government seized farmland outside Daraa al-Balad, before the fighting largely subsided, and Russian-mediated talks began.
But Hariri said pro-Damascus forces had continued to shell the area "to exhaust fighters who only have light weapons".
Hariri said residents in Daraa al-Balad now face a bleak choice.
"We have two options," he said. "Let the Fifth Corps deploy with Russia pulling the strings, or face a sudden onslaught from the government forces."
- What is the impact on civilians? -
The UN's envoy Geir Pedersen warned on Thursday of his "growing concern" at the situation, calling for an end to the fighting and unimpeded humanitarian access.
Around 24,000 of Daraa al-Balad's 55,000 residents have fled to surrounding areas or the government-controlled parts of the city, the UN humanitarian agency says.
"Civilians are suffering with acute shortages of fuel, cooking gas, water, and bread," Pedersen said. "Medical assistance is in short supply to treat the injured".
The government forces encircle the district, with entry limited to a single road with checkpoints.
Abu Al-Tayb, a media activist in Daraa al-Balad, said people were "at the mercy" of the forces.
"Sometimes only women and children are allowed to take the road, and sometimes they close it off completely," he said.
He said flour had run out, the government had cut off the water supply to the main storage tank, and there were regular power cuts.
"We're making do with very little," he said. -- AFP
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