Homs Hudna Agreement

Country/entity
Syria
Region
Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name
Homs Hudna Agreement
Date
7 Feb 2014
Agreement status
Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement
Yes
Agreement/conflict level
Intrastate/local conflict
Stage
Ceasefire/related
Conflict nature
Government
Peace process
Intra-Syrian Process (state/non-state)
Parties
Syrian Government;
Local representatives;
Third parties
UN, Syrian Red Crescent, International Committee of the Red Cross.
Description
Humanitarian agreement allowing for the evacuation of civilians from the old neighbourhoods of Homs brokered by the UN and with implementation support from the Syrian Red Crescent. Men between the ages of 15-55 are vetted by Syrian government before release. Wounded are transported to hospitals by the Syrian Government in conjuction with the Red Crescent.

Local agreement properties

Process type
Formal structured process
Rationale
-> Link to national level; external support mechanism; culture of signing There was allegedly a formally-establish mechanism to support the negotiation. First, the agreement is the result of a two-week discussion. Second, the agreement was mediated and will be implemented under the auspices, supervision and in the presence of the United Nations and the ICRC. Moreover, the struggle between the parties - the Syrian army and the Syrian opposition groups - lies at the centre of the Syrian conflict and has been a recurring point of contention ever since 2011.
Is there a documented link to a national peace process?
Yes
Link to national process: articulated rationale
The agreement seems to be linked to the national peace process. The agreement involves central governance actors (the Syrian government), as well as international observers/mediators.
Name of Locale
Homs, Old city
Nature of Locale
Smaller
GPS Lat/Long (DD)
34.727329, 36.718379
Participant type
Central state actor
Domestic religious organisation/leader or other elder
Mediator, facilitator or similar
Mediator or similar referred to
Mediator (references)
UN, Syrian Red Crescent, International Committee of the Red Cross
Type of mediator/facilitator/similar
International or transnational actor

Local issues

Ritual/prayer and process (including use of scripture)

No specific mention.

Grievance List
The agreement addresses the local grievances that arose from the clashes between oppositions groups and the Syrian government forces in several neighbourhoods of the city of Homs.

Page 1,
Drawing on our discussions since Friday 24 January 2014 and the subsequent meeting and talks regarding the situation in the old neighbourhoods of the city of Homs, and based on what we reach throughout the last few days [...]
Cattle rustling/banditry

No specific mention.

Social cover

No specific mention.

Homs agreement mediated by the UN

7 February 2014

Drawing on our discussions since Friday 24 January 2014 and the subsequent meeting and talks regarding the situation in the old neighbourhoods of the city of Homs, and based on what we reach throughout the last few days, we confirm the following:

Our readiness to provide you with the required support to contribute with us in vacating the civilians (children, women, elderly people) as soon as possible.

In this regard, we define women as female in general;

as for children, they are all whom do not exceed 15 years in age;

the elderly are those who are 60 [at later negotiations the maximum age bracket was reduced to 55] or above.

The first step should be evacuating the first batch of the civilians to the closest convenient place in the Old City with the participation and attendance of the United Nation representatives and the International Committee of the Red Cross, preferably.

In addition to that, teamwork from our side consists of social and medical commission, representatives of the Syrian Red Crescent and civil police, with female police agents in attendance.

The evacuated civilians will then be medically assisted and checked, accordingly with your collaboration.

After that they will be given the choice to move into the refugee centre that was already equipped in a suitable place close to the Old City in the presence and knowledge of your representatives.

This way their situation will be similar to other Syrians in the displaced centres where they can be supervised by the Ministry of Social Affairs, the organizations and the Red Crescent.

Alternatively they can go to any place of their own choice, including the Waar neighbourhood in the city of Homs.

A meeting will be held directly after the evacuation of the first batch

previously mentioned to assess the basic needs that will be sent to the Old City according to the estimations of the Relief Sub‐commission, your teamwork and the Syrian Red Crescent.

We confirm that this procedure will take place under collaborative supervision of Homs province authorities, United Nation representatives and the Red Cross, and they will be protected in all the areas that are under the control of the Arab Syrian Army and the specialized authorities.

Arms holders could benefit from this humanitarian procedure to vacate the Old City neighbourhoods, and they will be dealt with according to the governmental procedures to resolve their situation with the specialized authorities benefiting from the presidential pardons and the issued instructions in this regard.

With regards to the wounded and people with special needs, they will be transported to the hospitals collaboratively with the Red Crescent and they will be provided with all required care.

They can also benefit from the rights mentioned in the previous paragraph to resolve their situations according to the agreed basis.

It is understandable and agreed that the execution of the previous paragraphs ‘4‐5’ will take place after receiving lists of the names of people who are willing to benefit from this procedure.

They should be formerly informed of the ways that their (legal) situation will be resolved.

They will have the choice then to vacate the Old City or stay there.