UNICEF DELIVERS AID IN SYRIA FOR FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS

Damascus, 18 Rajab 1436/7 May 2015 (MINA) – UNICEF has distributed aid to families that it has been unable to reach for two years, the organisation revealed yesterday.

According to a statement issued by the organisation, the families had been displaced from Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, Syria, and were staying in Yalda, Beit Sahem and Babbila, all of which are located about 10 kilometres to the south of Damascus, Middle East Monitor (MEMO) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

Medical equipment for 3,000 people was sent in addition to five aid packages for newborns with a capacity for 250 natural births, as well as materials and food supplements for children.

According to UNICEF staff, who were on board the aid convoys, around 50,000 people in addition to approximately 2,500 refugee families reside in such areas. Most of the people living there are Palestinians who fled Yarmouk camp.

UNICEF spokeswoman Juliette Touma said that they could not get access to these areas before as they failed to obtain permission from the Syrian government. She explained that the aid convoy passed five checkpoints to reach the areas in question. (T/P002/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)