In Syria, the Russia-proposed humanitarian pause in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta and the UN-backed 30-day-long ceasefire have made no breakthrough. The delivery of aid and civilian evacuations still have not taken place. Alaa Ebrahim has more from Damascus.

ALAA EBRAHIM DAMASCUS "The Russian proposal was designed to allow civilians in Eastern Ghouta a safe way out of the besieged suburb, through a humanitarian safe corridor set up by Syria's military. But three days after it took effect, no civilians have used it to escape the fighting. A spokesman for the Russian base in Syria that is overseeing the hoped-for evacuations told reporters that the Russian base received many calls from families inside Ghouta wanting to leave. Syrian state media reported that armed groups inside Ghouta confronted families trying to escape the fighting and prevented them from doing so. Syrian TV said for a third consecutive day rebel groups shelled parts of the corridor with mortars. Damascus has often accused rebels of using civilians as human shields.

CGTN spoke with several families inside Eastern Ghouta. One family said they can't leave, because they have a 19 year-old son. They say they're afraid he will be detained by the government for military service. Syrian law requires 18 months of mandatory service in the army. Other families say they're concerned about possible prosecution by authorities. Others say they want to leave, but heard rumors that families trying to leave were picked up by al-Nusra front-an al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria. Other reports say rebel groups have booby-trapped roads leading in and out of Eastern Ghouta.

A leader in Jaish al-Islam - one of three rebel factions controlling Ghouta - told CGTN that civilians don't want to leave their houses, but at the same time denies reports that his organization is threatening those trying to leave. Alaa Ebrahim, CGTN Damascus.