A MUSALAHA INITIATIVE

EVACUATING CIVILIANS FROM MOADAMIYA, A BESIEGED REBEL CITY IN DAMASCUS, WESTERN GHOUTA

Following is the story, with photos and video links, of the rescue of thousands of citizens in Moadamiya, which ended less than 24 hours before Mother Agnes-Mariam boarded her flight to the US.  The Mussalaha(“Reconciliation”) Movement and Mother Agnes-Mariam played a key role, and it is worth noting the cooperation on all sides in building trust.  This was especially the case with respect to the opposition fighters and leadership that prevented the arrest of two of the companions of Mother Agnes-Mariam in the Mussalaha team.  Note that all sides also are responsible for the breakdown of trust and the failure to extend the successes of the Moadamiya evacuation to other localities.  The main lesson appears to be that if outside interference is absent and all sides are willing to take risks for peace, it is possible.

Late October, 2013

The official Syrian news agency (SANA) reported that five thousand four hundred women and children were evacuated over three days from the town of Moadamiya al-Sham.  The town is largely in rebel control but has been besieged for months, and suffers daily violent clashes between the Syrian opposition and government forces.  The agency said that the Ministry of Social Affairs, in collaboration with the province of Damascus and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent transferred the women and children to a temporary accommodation center in the province of Damascus.

The Minister of Social Affairs Kinda Chammat promised in a press release that the government would provide decent living conditions for women and children, who have suffered greatly.  Mother Fadia Laham (AKA Agnès-Mariam of the Cross), general coordinator of the initiative, said that the evacuation of children, women and the elderly from other areas will continue, with special attention to those who need emergency care.  She said that the contacts and communication channels established during the Moadamiya evacuation could be used and expanded for cooperation of this type.  Mother Agnes Mariam said that the success of this initiative demonstrates the possibility of a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis when all parties are Syrian, and without foreign intervention.

Standing before the military barricade of the chemical plant in Moadamiya blocked by a mound of earth for eight months.

The bulldozer opens a breach in the fence for the first time in eight months.

No man’s land between the fence and the entrance arch, West Moadamiya.

The coordinating team waits an hour, to no avail.

The rebels refuse, by force of arms, for civilians to leave the city.

Despite the entreaties of her team, Agnès-Mariam produces a white flag and ventures beyond the entrance arch, in rebel territory, a no man’s land known for hiding twelve of the deadliest snipers. Her team follows her.

Joined by Sister Carmel and two members of her team, Mother Agnès-Mariam is welcomed by the men of the revolution that came without weapons.

Outside the factory they find themselves with women from Moadamiya waiting for their evacuation.

Mother Agnes weeps at seeing the condition of a starving woman.

After a brief walk through the destroyed and damaged town, the rebels take the team to the headquarters of the Military Council: an apartment on the first floor of a building.

Arriving there every fighter will ask to listen personally to the explanations of the sisters. Mistrust gives way to confidence, even cordiality.

With a young militiaman wearing the flag of the revolution on his forehead.

The militiamen represent various rebel factions: The Free Syrian Army but also Jabhat Al-Nusra, recognizable by the Islamic banner on his forehead. A wounded man shows his bandaged arm.

Suddenly, turmoil and shooting in the air. The “independent revolutionaries” arrive: they want to arrest two members of Mother Agnes-Mariam’s team because they were accused of having links with the government. The other factions object. A fight breaks out with rifles and bare hands.

Finally a prominent leader arrives. He asks his men to secure a safe exit for Mother Agnes- Mariam and Sister Carmel.

Eating olives together (the only vegetable available in the besieged city) as a sign of peace [watch video here]

In the destroyed streets of Moadamiyyah there is a “feast”, a friendly encounter…

                             

The trust has been built. It allows the evacuation of 5000 civilians before events undermine and prevent the continuation of the initiative.

The impressive humanitarian armada waiting for the evacuation of the civilians.

A unique photo: rebels and pro-government militiamen are together like…brothers!

Finally the arrival at the guest house in New Damascus

Volunteers and Governorate personnel welcome the evacuated civilians in Qoudsiyya guest house. We wanted to evacuate everybody the third day but it was impossible. A lot of critics from the part of the Popular Committees were saying, “You are helping the families of the militiamen that are killing our families”.

But we kept negotiating and bypassed the critics. We chose another day three days later to finish the evacuation. This day begun with an impressive presence of International Red Cross and Red Crescent ambulances, mobile clinics and volunteers and more than 30 buses. Alas, the warlords did not accept the evacuation. We could not open the gate and some undisciplined militiamen opened the fire on the army hurting seven men among them; three were in critical condition. The army, despite the cease fire, answered with bombing.

The media said that there were many killed and injured people. Nobody knows the reality because the videos issued from Moadamiya do not show injured people. We knew afterwards that one woman received shrapnel that went through her back to her stomach without killing her or paralyzing her. One Palestinian boy was killed… We knew that this day the warlords did not want any more civilians to go out: they need them as human shields and they were not happy that their value dropped by half because of the exit of 5000 citizens. We all suffered a lot this day.

Al Jazeera reported falsely that Mother Agnes-Mariam declared that the “terrorists” breached the cease fire and this was a provocation for the militiamen. In reality Mother Agnes-Mariam declared that “undisciplined men breached the cease fire”.

But the report caused the Syrian opposition military council to be angry after inviting Mother Agnes-Mariam to enter their stronghold in Moadamiya along with sister Carmel and ate olives with them as a sign of friendship. “How could she call us terrorists?” Rumors circulated on the web that the Free Syrian Army decided to slaughter Mother Agnes Mariam as a betrayer. Nobody could explain why the evacuation of civilians and showing love and respect could cause such a response. Then the battle of Moadamiya re-ignited. We think about the women and children that are still there. We think about the women and children that are still in Daraya. All those people asked us to intervene and evacuate them.

But the warlords prefer not. Nevertheless we are proud to have been able to put 5000 civilians in a safe place. We believe that despite the obstacles mediation in Syria is possible. Reconciliation in Syria is possible. Peace in Syria is possible. Help Syria with Mediation, Reconciliation and PEACE. Thank you!

   

Impressive humanitarian armada for the evacuation of Moadamiya!

Last release: Yesterday the 29th of October we were able, thanks to the Lord, to finish the
evacuation of 2300 more women and children while 550 men, civilians and militiamen, decided to surrender themselves to the Army.

Greeting the men that decided without any negotiation to leave Moadamiya and surrender to the Syrian Army

One of them spoiled the atmosphere: he presented a false ID and the soldiers discovered four other false IDs. This could have caused a spirit of retaliation but the ISTEAMS were able to re-establish an atmosphere of respect and friendship.

The 550 men were taken by our team to a rest house and were treated with dignity. Then each 50 were taken to the frightening Air Force Intelligence headquarters for two hours of discussion and registration. They will spend one more night in the rest house and then the majority will be able to go back to normal civilian life. Those who have perpetrated crimes will be kept in this rest house for a rehabilitation period.

It is the FIRST time that we see such a thing in Syria. These matters of facts are UNIQUE in the history of the Syrian conflict. No one entered the air force security services and went out in two hours unless to the grave! A transformation is happening. Let us hope that mercy and forgiveness will prevail among all parties.

We hope that the media will transmit this story in a credible, positive way, helpful for all parties and motivated by reconciliation and peace.

Agnes-Mariam of the Cross
Head of the International Support Team for
Musalaha (Reconciliation) in Syria
Musalaha2013@hotmail.fr
Roaming:             009613213039
US Mobile: 01(510)417-7956

Compiled by the Mussalaha Team during and immediately after the events.