THE CRISIS IN YARMOUK CAMP

18 JÄ¢¹½ÊÓÆµE 2014

Our spokesperson Chris Gunness has the following to say on the situation in Yarmouk Camp

Dire humanitarian crisis facing civilians in Yarmouk camp, Damascus

"No Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA distribution of humanitarian assistance was carried out in Yarmouk on 18 June, following sporadic clashes and shelling in and around Yarmouk overnight. This is the eleventh consecutive day that Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA is unable to carry out any distribution inside Yarmouk, further worsening the desperate humanitarian situation of the 18,000 civilians trapped there.

"Meanwhile, with the facilitation of Syrian authorities, Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA arranged for the return to Yarmouk of 21 baccalaureate students after they completed their State exams in Damascus.  Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA supported the students during their residence at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA's Palestine School and the Sa'id Al'as Centre run by the Syrian Government Department of Palestine Refugee Affairs, GAPAR, providing them with various amenities, hygiene kits and a small cash stipend.

"Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA is deeply concerned that armed hostilities continue to disrupt critical humanitarian operations in Yarmouk. The Agency urges all concerned parties to restore Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA's daily distributions of  food and other humanitarian assistance to help address what remains a dire humanitarian crisis for the civilians of Yarmouk.  Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµRWA will continue to advocate for continuous, substantial and safe humanitarian access to Yarmouk, and stands ready to provide a wider range of assistance to civilians there."