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Muslim Prayers Suspended in Palestinian Refugee Camp

Published : 03-08-2020

Muslim Prayers Suspended in Palestinian Refugee Camp

Activists have urged the residents of Khan Eshieh camp for Palestinian refugees to abide by the decision of the Syrian Health Ministry announced on Sunday to suspend congregational prayers at mosques in and around Damascus for 15 days as of Monday to prevent a coronavirus outbreak in the area.

Local sources told AGPS that a number of coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the camp. The residents continue to deny such reports over bullying concerns.

Over recent months, AGPS has warned of a projected outbreak of COVID-19 in Palestinian refugee camps in Syria. Though campaigns to help spread awareness among the camps’ residents have seen the day, limited access to running water, pharmacies and medical facilities means displacement camps are more susceptible to the spread of the highly infectious virus.

According to UN data, Khan Eshieh camp lies beside the ancient ruins of Khan Eshieh, 27km south-west of Damascus. The Khan historically served as an overnight shelter for trade caravans on the road between Damascus and the southwest, and in 1948, it provided shelter for the first refugees from Palestine. The camp was established in 1949 on an area of 0.69 square kilometers with refugees originally from the northern part of Palestine.

Before the conflict in Syria, the camp was home to more than 20,000 Palestine refugees. In 2012, the farms and fields surrounding the camp became active battlegrounds in which heavy weapons were deployed, often indiscriminately. The population more than halved to 9,000.

Some of the camp's buildings and infrastructure were severely affected including some UNRWA installations; two UNRWA schools and the community centre were almost razed to the ground. In 2016, UNRWA was able to re-access Khan Esheih and the Agency was able to rehabilitate some of its installations. Residents have also slowly started to return, with the camp now accommodating 12,000 people.

 

Short URL : https://actionpal.org.uk/en/post/10465

Activists have urged the residents of Khan Eshieh camp for Palestinian refugees to abide by the decision of the Syrian Health Ministry announced on Sunday to suspend congregational prayers at mosques in and around Damascus for 15 days as of Monday to prevent a coronavirus outbreak in the area.

Local sources told AGPS that a number of coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the camp. The residents continue to deny such reports over bullying concerns.

Over recent months, AGPS has warned of a projected outbreak of COVID-19 in Palestinian refugee camps in Syria. Though campaigns to help spread awareness among the camps’ residents have seen the day, limited access to running water, pharmacies and medical facilities means displacement camps are more susceptible to the spread of the highly infectious virus.

According to UN data, Khan Eshieh camp lies beside the ancient ruins of Khan Eshieh, 27km south-west of Damascus. The Khan historically served as an overnight shelter for trade caravans on the road between Damascus and the southwest, and in 1948, it provided shelter for the first refugees from Palestine. The camp was established in 1949 on an area of 0.69 square kilometers with refugees originally from the northern part of Palestine.

Before the conflict in Syria, the camp was home to more than 20,000 Palestine refugees. In 2012, the farms and fields surrounding the camp became active battlegrounds in which heavy weapons were deployed, often indiscriminately. The population more than halved to 9,000.

Some of the camp's buildings and infrastructure were severely affected including some UNRWA installations; two UNRWA schools and the community centre were almost razed to the ground. In 2016, UNRWA was able to re-access Khan Esheih and the Agency was able to rehabilitate some of its installations. Residents have also slowly started to return, with the camp now accommodating 12,000 people.

 

Short URL : https://actionpal.org.uk/en/post/10465