Assad visits displaced Syrians in Damascus suburbs
Iran Press TV
Wed Mar 12, 2014 12:57PM GMT
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has made a public visit to displaced people living in a refugee camp outside the capital, Damascus.
Assad visited people living in the Dweir shelter in the city of Adra, northeast of the country's capital, on Wednesday.
'President Assad is inspecting conditions for the displaced in Damascus Province,' the Syrian state television said.
During his visit, Assad was quoted as saying that Syria was continuing its fight against foreign-backed militants and its efforts to "secure basic necessities for the displaced until they can return to their homes."
Last December, militants captured parts of Adra, forcing its residents to leave their homes.
The city of Adra is considered to be a strategic gateway to Damascus and has witnessed a number of clashes between Syrian army forces and foreign-backed militants since the violence in Syria, which started three years ago.
His visit to Adra is the first public appearance he has made to areas outside Damascus since last August, when he went to Daraya.
The visit comes four months before the Syrian president's term officially ends.
Syria has been the scene of deadly crisis since March 2011. Over 130,000 people have reportedly lost their lives and millions of others displaced due to the situation in the Arab country.
According to reports, the Western powers and their regional allies -- Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey -- are supporting the militants operating inside Syria.
SZH/AB/SL
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