Al Jazeera has learned more about the aid mission into Syria by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent.

There is already a branch of the Red Crescent in Homs, sources said.

A small team is on standby to evacuate residents. It is estimated 700-800 people are currently there.

Teams have been given the green light by the authorities but the Red Crescent, ICRC and the opposition are in negotiations to gain safe access to the area.

There are concerns that the opposition forces have not agreed to stop fighting.

If the teams get in on thursday, they will distribute aid and evacuate those who want to leave.

Evacuation teams are standing by with buses and ambulances. They will take people to where they want to go to or to other Red Crescent shelters within Homs. The main aim is to get people to safety.

If the operation does not happen today, the teams may have to wait until Saturday because of the escalation of violence that tends to take place on Fridays, the sources told Al Jazeera.