Clashes have broken out in Damascus, with Syrian regime forces firing mortar rounds on opposition positions, activists say, in what they describe as some of the heaviest fighting in the nation's capital this month.

The fighting on Thursday coincided with the departure from the country of UN “monitors”, whose mandate expired and was not renewed due to deteriorating conditions.

The head of the UN mission, Babacar Gaye, was expected to leave on Thursday. Some monitors left on Wednesday and more are expected to follow the team leader on Thursday.

Regime forces fired mortar rounds from the Qasioun mountain overlooking Damascus, activists said.

The southern suburbs echoed with the sound of gun battles between the army and opposition forces who have been struggling to topple President Bashar al-Assad for more than 17 months.

"For about an hour we heard explosions and gunfire. It is not as bad as yesterday yet but tensions are really high. I think you could probably hear the echo of shelling or clashes from most parts of Damascus," opposition activist Samir al-Shami told Reuters news agency via Skype.

He and other activists said the bombardment and fighting seemed to be concentrated on southern districts of Damascus, where opposition forces have been able to slip in from rebellious suburbs.

Assad's forces stormed the southeastern district of Kafr Souseh early on Thursday and were making arrests, another activist said.

Hundreds displaced

Hundreds of residents have been displaced due to fighting in Damascus, and many have taken shelter in mosques and schools in calmer areas.

But some of those displaced are being asked to leave their places of refuge, said an activist who gave his name only as Tareq, of the Revolution Leadership Council of Damascus.

"Assad's regime warned people staying in schools they have to evacuate within a few days, they are saying it is because they have to prepare for the coming school year," he said.

"Thousands of displacees are worried because they have a lack of alternatives for a place to stay."

At least 40 people were killed on Wednesday in the shelling, which was accompanied by attacks from helicopters, and in ensuing ground raids on the Kfar Souseh, Daraya, Qadam and Nahr Aisha neighborhoods, residents said.

In towns across Syria, the suffering of war does not end with the shelling, as food and medicine shortages get worse.

At last count the UN said it knew of 170,000 refugees, but many more are unregistered. A school near the outskirts of Aleppo has become home to more than 500 people who have fled the fighting.

Appeal for funds

Valerie Amos, UN emergency relief coordinator, appealed on Wednesday for more funds to help a million people in need.
The plea followed a visit to the country by Amos, who is also the UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs.

She said that most of the money raised so far had gone on food aid but there are other concerns.

"One is that we have the possibility of a major health impact in the country," Amos said.

"Syria, as you may know, produces most of its medicines in factories in Aleppo and elsewhere. They have now come under the impact of the fighting, so crucial life-saving medicines are no longer available."

PHOTO CAPTION

A member of the Free Syrian Army takes cover inside a house during clashes with Syrian army soldiers in Aleppo's Saif al-Dawla district, August 22, 2012.

Al-Jazeera