UN confirms 30-day ceasefire in Syria

The UN Security Council has unanimously approved a resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire in Syria.

The council’s 15 members all voted to permit deliveries of aid and emergency evacuations in affected zones.

It’s after a week of intense bombing of the Eastern Ghouta rebel enclave by Syrian government forces.

Since Thursday the vote had been delayed many times while members tried to come to an agreement. The Syrian government’s ally, Russia, wanted changes to the terms.

Russia was accused of stalling for time by other diplomats.

Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General, had described the situation in the Eastern Ghouta as “hell on Earth”.

Nikki Haley, US envoy to the UN, requested that the ceasefire to be implemented immediately.