Syria Crisis: UN: Russia and Turkey still working on Idlib deal, but optimistic

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Russia and Turkey told a weekly meeting of the UN Syria humanitarian taskforce in Geneva on Thursday that they were still working out the details of the Idlib deal. But the UN remains optimistic. CGTN's David Deen has more.

More than 30-thousand people have fled Idlib over fears of an imminent all-out assault on the last rebel stronghold in Syria.

But a deal to create a buffer zone in the province seems to have eased some fears.

JAN EGELAND UN HUMANITARIAN ADVISOR "We're relieved that the agreement came. It came in the 11th hour really. There seemed to be a relentless countdown to a war that would potentially engulf 3 million civilians. I think it shows that diplomacy can win, must more often win in this man-made catastrophe."

The agreement to create a demilitarized buffer zone was announced on Tuesday after talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria welcomed the deal and also underscored the need for actual action.

STAFFAN DE MISTURA UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL ENVOY FOR SYRIA "And now that we have this deal, there is no reason not to move forward expeditiously with the political process."

Since the Russian-Turkish deal, nearly 7,000 people have returned to their homes in Idlib, hoping a political process without bloodshed is on the way. CGTN, David Deen.