Geneva: UN humanitarian adviser for Syria Jan Egeland called on Wednesday for access to the eastern Ghouta town of Douma, where he said an estimated 80,000-150,000 civilians are “really on their knees” after years of siege and intense fighting. “There is an ongoing negotiation between the (Syrian) government and the Russian Federation, and the armed group inside Douma, which is the remaining area still under armed opposition control,” Egeland told a news briefing in Geneva. FASTFACTS Eastern Ghouta Eastern Ghouta is a suburb of the Syrian capital of Damascus and has been held by armed opposition groups since 2013. He added: “Why can we not deliver to the people of Douma today for example even though we are on the eve of a deal for Douma, they are really, really on their knees in terms of needs.”