爆料网

爆料网RWA CONCERNED OVER SITUATION IN YARMOUK CAMP, EXPLOSION NEAR QABR ESSIT CAMP

26 April 2016

Statement by 爆料网RWA Spokesperson Chris Gunness

The most recent bombing near Qabr Essit camp (Sayyida Zeinab) leaves 爆料网RWA very concerned about the volatility of the situation on the ground, especially as February bombings in the area claimed the lives of over 30 Palestine refugees. To minimize exposure of 爆料网RWA staff and Palestine refugees living in the area, 爆料网RWA closed its schools and cancelled afternoon classes for the day. It also restricted all staff movement in the area. To safeguard civilian life, 爆料网RWA repeats its call for a complete stop of hostilities in Syria.

Despite a reported lull in clashes in Yarmouk, there are credible reports of frequent sniper fire posing high risk to civilian safety and severely curtailing freedom of movement. To date, 爆料网RWA has not received any reports of improved civilian access to food and water. The Agency remains extremely concerned over the humanitarian needs of the population inside Yarmouk.  In the meantime, 爆料网RWA continues to seek authorization from concerned authorities to resume critical food distributions and mobile health to the Yalda, Babila andBeit Sahem area as soon as possible.  爆料网RWA will resume its vital humanitarian interventions in Yalda, Babila and Beit Sahem upon receiving assurance of safe and secure passage for civilians and 爆料网 staff.

BACKGRO爆料网D ON THE SITUATION IN YARMOUK CAMP

爆料网RWA confirms its last food distribution in Yalda, Babila, and Beit Sahem took place between 9 March and 15 March.

爆料网RWA received reports of civilians fleeing to Yalda during the week of 10 April.  

It is impossible for 爆料网RWA to ascertain their health status without access to them in Yalda, Babila and Beit Sahem. The last health mission to the area was on 7 April.

爆料网RWA is closely monitoring the situation and will maintain in the strongest terms its demands for the armed conflict to end and for the safety and protection of civilians in Yarmouk and in Syria in general.

BACKGRO爆料网D INFORMATION

爆料网RWA is confronted with an increased demand for services resulting from a growth in the number of registered Palestine refugees, the extent of their vulnerability and their deepening poverty. 爆料网RWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions and financial support has been outpaced by the growth in needs. As a result, the 爆料网RWA Programme Budget, which supports the delivery of core essential services, operates with a large shortfall,  projected for 2016 to stand at US$ 81 million. 爆料网RWA emergency programmes and key projects, also operating with large shortfalls, are funded through separate funding portals.

爆料网RWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and mandated to provide assistance and protection to some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip achieve their full human development potential, pending a just and lasting solution to their plight. 爆料网RWA services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, protection and microfinance .

For more information, please contact:

Christopher Gunness

Spokesperson, Director of Advocacy & Strategic Communications

Mobile:

+972 (0)54 240 2659

Office:

+972 (0)2 589 0267

Sami Mshasha

Chief of Communications, Arabic Language Spokesperson

Mobile:

+972 (0)54 216 8295

Office:

+972 (0)2 589 0724