Almost 18,000 civilians, including over 7,500 children, have been evacuated from areas of Aleppo controlled by militants over the last 24 hours, the Russian Center for reconciliation of the warring parties in Syria said on Saturday, according to TASS agency.

“Over the last 24 hours, another 17,971 civilians, including 7,542 children, were evacuated from areas of Aleppo controlled by militants with the help of the Russian Center for reconciliation of the warring parties,” the center said, as quoted by the source.

“Twenty-eight militants laid down their arms and went to the western part of the city. In accordance with the decision made by the Syrian president, they were amnestied,” the center noted.

“Russian servicemen from the International Anti-Mine Center continued humanitarian demining of neighborhoods in eastern Aleppo liberated from militants,” the reconciliation center said. “Over the last 24 hours, they demined the territory of 8 hectares in total. Moreover, they cleared 24 buildings from explosive devices, including one mechanized bakery, two schools, one mosque, one power substation, as well as 4.5 kilometers of roads,” the center added.