• by Josh Butler (united nations)
• Tuesday, April 07, 2015
• Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, Apr 07 (IPS) - The head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees has described the situation inside the Syrian refugee camp of Yarmouk, under attack by Islamic State (IS) militants, as "one of the most severe ever" for the already spartan camp.

Fighters allegedly from the IS, and al-Qaeda affiliate al-Nusra, began their attack on the camp, on the outskirts of Damascus, on Apr. 1. By Apr. 4, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 90 percent of the camp was controlled by militants.

Around 18,000 people, including 3,500 children, are believed to be trapped inside Yarmouk.

Pierre Krähenbühl, commissioner general for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), told a press briefing Monday the current situation was among the most dire faced by refugees in the camp, already under siege for two years and suffering from a lack of food, water and medical help.

"The current escalation has made the hour more desperate than ever for civilians inside Yarmouk," Krähenbühl said via videoconference from Jordan.

"Concerted action by members and U.N. members to uphold humanitarian law is required."

He said UNRWA had been unable to render assistance to those trapped inside due to access issues, but that the agency was "ready at any time to resume humanitarian assistance."

On Sunday, UNRWA released a statement demanding access to the camp. "The lives of civilians in Yarmouk have never been more profoundly threatened," the statement read.

"The level of our aid has been well below the minimum required. Potable water is now unavailable inside Yarmouk and the meagre health facilities that existed have been overrun by conflict.  The situation is extremely dire and threatens to deteriorate even further."

Krähenbühl was unable to comment on how much of the camp may be under militant control, but conceded that affected areas did house the highest concentration of civilians.

Reports from Yarmouk include alleged beheadings by IS members, but Krähenbühl was again unable to comment, saying UNRWA had been "unable to independently verify" such reports.

Ongoing gun battles in the streets of Yarmouk further escalate an already bleak and miserable living situation for Palestinian refugees. Civilians are said to subsist on just 400 calories a day, with sparse access to food or water. Krähenbühl conceded UNRWA was only able to provide "meagre" assistance to Yarmouk residents, calling their living conditions "unbearable."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council have been briefed on the situation. While it is unclear what, if any, action the U.N. may take, Krähenbühl made several cryptic comments calling on the international community to "influence" armed groups to curtail their offensive.

"There are no easy solutions … messages have to be passed to all the parties and armed groups inside Yarmouk that respect for life is an element not only in international law, it is a fundamental human principle that is found in all religions," he said.

"We call on states to act and influence parties on the ground … more concerted action could influence action on the ground."

When asked whether UNRWA had any direct contact with IS, Krähenbühl said no.

"It is not up to me to give any indication on who may channel messages to different parties, including the armed groups inside Yarmouk," he said.

© Inter Press Service (2015) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service

Where next?

Advertisement