After days of delays, buses crowded with civilians have again left the Syrian city of Aleppo, bound for refugee camps.
People from the nearby towns of Kefraya and al-Foua are also being removed, as part of a ceasefire deal to allow rebels safe passage out of Aleppo.
These Aleppo residents have told Al Jazeera they and others have been waiting for such an opportunity for a long time.
"We have been stranded in the streets, waiting to be evacuated. Finally, buses arrived, and we are taken out of eastern Aleppo."
"There are still thousands of people stranded at the Ramousah checkpoint, and they are waiting for the green light* to cross into rebel territory. They are also suffering a lot."
On Sunday, some of the buses sent to transport evacuees were attacked and set on fire, temporarily halting operations.
The retaking of the besieged city is a milestone for Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, although large parts of the country remain under the control of opposing groups.
Among the people rescued is seven year-old Bana Al-Abed, a young girl who had amassed a large social-media following with her tweets about daily life in Aleppo.
Speaking to a local journalist, she has thanked the public for its support.
"There was heavy bombardment in Aleppo. We emerged from the rubble. For those asking about our safety, I want to let you know we made it out safely."
Nearly 50 children who had been trapped in an orphanage in eastern Aleppo were also safely recovered.
At a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, a French-drafted resolution to supply monitors to oversee evacuations has been unanimously approved after hours-long negotiations.
Russia, which has vetoed six Council resolutions since 2011, wants monitors accompanied by Syrian government representatives.
But Russian ambassador Vitaly Churkin says his country supports any humanitarian intervention into the crisis.
"We realise that this is a city which has witnessed a lot of dramatic events over the past few years, not much good governance there over the past few years, so some UN observation of the situation there might be very helpful. However, it needs to be properly organised. So we'll be looking forward to the work which the secretary-general needs to do under this resolution which we're about to adopt, with all the interested parties, to prepare the proper role of UN people in the east of Aleppo in monitoring the respect for the international humanitarian work."
Syrian ambassador Bashar Al-Jaafari has grudgingly accepted the Council's decision.
But he accuses the Council of trying to protect anti-government forces, whom he calls "terrorists."
"France and Britain's insistence on presenting and adopting such a resolution is just another part of the continued propaganda against Syria and its fight against terrorism. While we respect the Security Council resolutions, we are aware of the real purpose of their efforts, which is to protect the terrorists."
Meanwhile, representatives at the United Nations have promised to punish those behind alleged war crimes in Syria.
Britain's UN spokesman, Matthew Rycroft, has spoken directly to any perpetrators.
"But I want to send a very clear message, that ... two messages. First of all, that accountability is crucial -- people who commit these war crimes and other lesser crimes will not get away with it. There can be no impunity. There will be accountability in the long run."
