Russia has said 169 civilians have been able to leave the opposition-held east of Syria's Aleppo city through a passage in the Salaheddin neighbourhood that they're calling a "humanitarian corridor".
"Since the start of the humanitarian operation ... 169 civilians have left the neighbourhoods controlled by illegal armed groups through the exit points," a Russian defence ministry statement said.
Syrian news agency SANA said those who evacuated were welcomed, given medical treatment and taken by bus to temporary shelters.
The agency published photos of people - mostly women and children - walking onto buses.
Russian defence also said the Syrian Government has "prepared six humanitarian aid centres which can accommodate 3000 people".
On Saturday night a maternity hospital was bombed, killing two people and injuring several babies. It has not been confirmed if the air raid came from a Syrian regime aircraft or a warplane of their Russian allies.
An estimated 250,000 people live in Aleppo. Once the economic hub of Syria, the city has been ravaged by war that began with anti-government protests in 2012.
No aid has been able to enter east Aleppo for weeks, and humanitarian organisations warn there is a high risk that those still living there will begin to starve.
Syrian rebels say these latest efforts to help the population out of the wartorn city is a ploy and it's targeted at recapturing the once political centre.
Newshub.
