NHK NEWS LINE, 19 March 2018— Fighting in eastern Ghouta near the Syrian capital of Damascus has killed more than 1,400 civilians during the past month. This comes as government forces have intensified their offensive against rebels.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the intense fighting resulted in the deaths of 1,401 civilians, including 276 children. It says more than 5,200 others were injured.

Russian-backed Syrian government forces are now in control of about 80 percent of the region, which has been a rebel stronghold.

After a month-long offensive, the office of President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday released photos of him visiting troops in the area.

It says around 50,000 of the 400,000 residents have left the enclave as conditions there are dire, with scarce food and medical supplies.

The main rebel groups in eastern Ghouta jointly released a statement that says they are ready to negotiate with Russia toward implementing a ceasefire in line with a UN Security Council resolution.

But a general evacuation from the region is not being offered.

Government forces are poised to undertake an intensive assault in densely populated areas to seize the entire region.

There are fears that many more civilian lives will likely be lost.