The BBC is reporting that thousands of civilians trapped in the Damascus suburb of Musahamiya fled after rebel forces and government troops agreed to a temporary cease fire to let them leave.

However, reports say that the government went through the group of refugees and detained at least 500 men for questioning. This contradicts a statement from the Syrian Red Crescent that all men arrived at a government center for displaced citizens.

Sources in Muadhamiya told the BBC that many civilians are still hiding in the suburb out of fears of government troops.

The Syrian minister for social affairs says that anyone left behind in Muadhamiya is going to be considered a rebel fighter or terrorist.

The situation in the city had become so severe that Islamic leaders said it would be acceptable for citizens to eat cats, dogs and donkeys to survive when those animals are normally considered “unclean” for Muslims.