UNRWA URGES SYRIA TO HALT MILITARY OPERATIONS ON YARMOUK CAMP

Yarmouk, 14 Rajab 1436/3 May 2015 (MINA) – The United Nations Relief And Work Agency (UNRWA) has called on the Syrian government to refrain from targeting the Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugees with explosive weapons.

UNRWA said in a press statement afternoon Saturday it is increasingly alarmed about the safety of civilians in Yarmouk, amid reports of armed clashes, the use of heavy weapons and air strikes, The Palestinian Information Center (PIC) quoted by Mi’raj Islamic Agency (MINA) as reporting.

“Civilians in the camp went through a night of extreme trauma and distress,” said the agency, calling on Syrian authorities to refrain from using explosive weapons in populated areas. UNRWA said it will closely monitor reports of civilian fatalities and casualties.

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Since the upsurge of violence following the entry of particular armed groups into Yarmouk on 1 April, civilians have faced increased threats and trauma on a large scale. Thousands have fled the camp and escalating violence to neighboring areas of Damascus where UNRWA teams have been providing critical humanitarian assistance to them.

UNRWA has repeatedly expressed strong concern for the security of civilians and has demanded access to those civilians, both Palestinian refugees and displaced Syrians, who remain inside Yarmouk.

“We again demand that all armed actors protect civilians in accordance with their obligations under international law and we urge all those with influence over the relevant parties, including armed groups in the camp, to demand that they fully comply with their obligations in relation to the protection of all civilians,” declared the agency.

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Thousands of Palestinian refugees have been trapped and others killed inside the Yarmouk camp besieged by regime army forces since the outbreak of the Syrian conflict in 2011. The situation has gone from bad to worse ever since Daesh terrorists, ISIS, took over the camp in early April. (T/P011/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)