UN calls for access to Ghouta as 45,000 people flee

The UN has called for full access to the besieged Syrian town of eastern Ghouta as more than 150,000 civilians flee towns across Syria.

UNHCR, the UN's refugee agency, said it needs "full and unhindered" humanitarian access to those inside and outside eastern Ghouta, one of the last rebel-held areas in the country, reports Sky News. More than 45,000 people have fled the town on the western edge of Damascus over the past few days as the Syrian government and its Russian ally carry out airstrikes, UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are still trapped in the city and "in dire need or aid" after bombing was stepped-up in the middle of last week.

Mahecic said the agency was "alarmed by a further deepening of the humanitarian crisis in Syria".Syria's civil war entered its eighth year last week, having killed half a million people and driven more than 11 million from their homes . Nearly six million Syrians have fled abroad in one of the worst refugee crises of modern times.

In the north east of the country a further emergency is unfolding in Afrin where an estimated 104,000 people have left their homes due to Turkish attacks. Another 10,000 people are stranded in rebel held Az-Ziyara as they attempt to cross into Syrian government areas, to no avail.

UNHCR has been responding to the "urgent humanitarian needs" for those fleeing Afrin and eastern Ghouta but Mr Mahecic said there are so many people they are struggling to provide enough shelter and essentials.

He called for those fleeing the two towns to be protected from the fighting and emphasised that any evacuations must be  voluntary.He added: "They must be allowed and guaranteed the right of choice to remain in eastern Ghouta or seek safety elsewhere.

"UNHCR is aware of, but has no access to security screening reportedly taking place as civilians leave eastern Ghouta.