UNRWA CALLS FOR PROCTECTING Al-YARMOUK RESIDENTS, REFUGEES

photo: Reuters — UNRWA strongly appeals to all armed actors to cease hostilities that place refugees of al-Yarmouk camp in acute danger and to withdraw immediately from populated areas.(Photo: Reuters)

Jerusalem, 17 Jumadil Akhir 1436/6 April 2015 (MINA) – The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has strongly appealed to all armed actors to cease hostilities that place refugees of al-Yarmouk camp in acute danger and to withdraw immediately from populated areas.

“Never has the hour been more desperate in the Palestine refugee camp of Yarmouk, in Damascus,” said UNRWA in a statement Sunday, Wafa News Agency quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

UNRWA demanded that all parties exercise maximum restraint and abide by their obligations under international law to protect civilians. “We demand humanitarian access and the establishment of secure conditions under which we can deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance and that enable civilians to be evacuated.”

The international agency also called on concerned states to urgently exercise their authority and influence in order to end the fighting in Yarmouk for the sake of saving civilian lives and alleviating human suffering.

“The lives of civilians in Yarmouk have never been more profoundly threatened. Men, women and children – Syrians and Palestinians alike – are cowering in their battered homes in profound fear, desperate for security, food and water, deeply concerned by the grave perils that may yet come, as hostilities continue.”

The statement added, “It is virtually impossible for civilians to leave Yarmouk as any attempt to move in the open brings high risk.”

For over a year now, the besieged inhabitants of Yarmouk, including 3,500 children, have been reliant on UNRWA’s irregular distributions of food and other assistance. The level of UNRWA’s aid has been well below the minimum required.

Potable water is now unavailable inside Yarmouk and the meager health facilities that existed have been overrun by conflict. The situation is extremely dire and threatens to deteriorate even further, said the UNRWA, adding it was ready to resume its assistance to the civilian population at any time but for that a cessation of hostilities is required.

UNRWA called on the international community including UN bodies to be seized of this critical situation without delay and to ensure that all civilians are protected in accordance with the UN charter and international law. “Failure to do so could lead to the gravest and most appalling of consequences for civilians in Yarmouk.”

International and local media said the so-called Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) took over large parts of al-Yarmouk refugee camp, almost 90 percent, and was threatening to control it completely.(T/P008/P3)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)