DAMASCUS, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- When the echoes of gunfire drew closer to her neighborhood in the northwestern Syrian city of Aleppo, Lama Fariz knew she had to make a hard decision -- leave home and flee into the unknown.

"We were leaving our homes, asking our neighbors what was happening. In moments, everything changed," 32-year-old Fariz recalled.

Fariz and her family were among the thousands of Syrians fleeing the city when fighters, mainly from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an extremist militant group, entered Aleppo, Syria's second-largest city.

Initially, Fariz and her neighbors believed the fighting that began last week was distant, confined to the rural outskirts of Aleppo. But soon, Fariz knew she was wrong. "Then we saw they (rebels) were getting closer, reaching our main road to Damascus," she said.

As rebel forces advanced, fear and uncertainty gripped residents. "We started to feel we were in danger," Fariz said, adding, "We first decided to stay in our homes. But on Friday, many of our neighbors left their houses, and we began to realize the severity of the whole thing."

Fariz then made the painful decision to leave. "We're leaving our home, our neighborhood, and our memories," she lamented. "It's a difficult decision."

The escape was also fraught with challenges, as many fled for refuge with only some clothes, lacking adequate fuel and resources.

"People were running, leaving without belongings," Fariz recounted. "All the cars were moving. If one stopped, we all stopped," she added.

As Fariz and others fled, thousands of displaced residents from Nubl and Al-Zahraa towns remained stranded in southern Aleppo, facing freezing temperatures without adequate shelter.

Local radio station Sham FM reported Tuesday that around 2,000 people were trapped and unable to access safe evacuation routes.

The situation in Aleppo deteriorated rapidly, with essential services collapsing and infrastructure ruined. Key hospitals were severely damaged or out of service due to equipment shortages and a lack of medical staff. Communication blackouts and the shutdown of financial services further paralyzed the city.

In addition, residents reported home invasions and looting by unidentified armed groups.

Fariz called for immediate international intervention to address the crisis. "Open safe corridors and provide buses for those trapped, particularly children, women, and the elderly."

Now residing in a safer area in Damascus, Fariz faces the daunting task of figuring out what to do next. She expects to apply for a job in Damascus until the dust settles in Aleppo.

As winter approaches, humanitarian agencies are racing against time to address shortages of food, medical supplies, and necessities in Aleppo and surrounding areas. Despite the relief efforts, the overall situation remains dire.

The future remains uncertain for Fariz and countless others displaced by the conflict, who have already suffered from a civil war that has raged for 13 years. Enditem

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