A Brief Statement on Latest Developments at Yarmouk Refugee Camp on 1st – 2nd April 2015.
Published : 02-04-2015
The AGPS has been closely monitoring the developments at Yarmouk Refugee Camp, where armed groups of Islamic State “ISIS” broke into the camp neighborhoods. Armed clashes has been reported between Aknaf Bait Al Maqdis armed groups and ISIS at various zones of the camp. The situation can be summarized as follows:
ISIS militants broke into the camp coming from Al Hajar Al Aswad area, where militants seized control of Al Thalathein Street, including Palestine Hospital, the only health facility in the camp.
In cooperation with Al Nusra Front during the first day, ISIS militants expanded their control over squares and blocks of the camp that were previously under the control of Al Nusra Front. These areas include: St. No. 15 through to Hamdan Junction, Al Quds St., Palestine St. and its northern parts, through to Nouh Ibrahem Street that connects Al Quds St. with Al Talayi’ park. ISIS snipers controlled the areas that extend between Yarmouk Street and Schools Square and from Al Orouba Street to Al Taqadom Neighborhood southern the camp. These areas form upto %40 of the total area of the camp.
These incidents were accompanied by mortar shelling by the Syrian Regime and ISIS, targeting Palestine Hospital and Safad Street.
These incidents have caused an overwhelming humanitarian crisis, especially within areas controlled by ISIS, and in firing zones where residents have not been able to evacuate over the past 24hrs.
ISIS imposed a curfew in the areas they control, including Palestine Mosque where the main water distribution point is located. This has left residents of Yarmouk Camp with no access to drinking water since ISIS broke into the camp. Aid flow into the camp has stopped, causing more deterioration of the humanitarian situation, especially among civilians.
4 fatalities have been confirmed to date; one was the result of sniper fire and three were killed by shelling. Two victims/fatalities were buried in Abdul Qader Al Hussini Park, as the cemetery is located in an ISIS-controlled area, southern the camp.
In the second day, ISIS managed to breakthrough Al Ja’aouna Street down to the ends of Al Basil hospital. This has increased the ISIS-controlled areas to approximately %65 of the camp.
In the afternoon of the second day, armed groups affiliated to the Syrian opposition proceeded to Yarmouk Camp coming from south of Damascus and positioned at the southern entrance of the camp, where they have clashed with Al Nusra Front and ISIS near Palestine square at the entrance of Yelda Town; as this report is being published.
The AGPS confirms receiving several emergency appeals by the camp residents, especially those who live in firing zones and those trapped in the areas controlled by ISIS and Al Nusra Front. Appeals were mainly about the panic and severe shortage of all basic food supplies, and the lack of access to drinking water among the residents. The widespread of snipers on rooftops of most places in the camp made it extremely difficult for any movement.
In the wake of these serious developments, and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation as a result of halting aid, the AGPS calls on all international organizations, especially the humanitarian organizations to exert more efforts to ensure entry of humanitarian aid or to propose initiatives to put an end to bloodshed.
AGPS urges all Palestinian and Syrian parties, in-country and abroad, to take responsibility and immediately act to stop the deteriorating situation in the camp. AGPS blames the Syrian regime for direct responsibility over the continued closure of the camp, keeping thousands of Palestinian civilians hostages to the ongoing situation in the country.
Last but not least, the Palestinian leadership, represented by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian factions are silently watching what is happening and must take actions now at all levels to put an end to the suffering of Palestinian refugees in Syria.
The AGPS has been closely monitoring the developments at Yarmouk Refugee Camp, where armed groups of Islamic State “ISIS” broke into the camp neighborhoods. Armed clashes has been reported between Aknaf Bait Al Maqdis armed groups and ISIS at various zones of the camp. The situation can be summarized as follows:
ISIS militants broke into the camp coming from Al Hajar Al Aswad area, where militants seized control of Al Thalathein Street, including Palestine Hospital, the only health facility in the camp.
In cooperation with Al Nusra Front during the first day, ISIS militants expanded their control over squares and blocks of the camp that were previously under the control of Al Nusra Front. These areas include: St. No. 15 through to Hamdan Junction, Al Quds St., Palestine St. and its northern parts, through to Nouh Ibrahem Street that connects Al Quds St. with Al Talayi’ park. ISIS snipers controlled the areas that extend between Yarmouk Street and Schools Square and from Al Orouba Street to Al Taqadom Neighborhood southern the camp. These areas form upto %40 of the total area of the camp.
These incidents were accompanied by mortar shelling by the Syrian Regime and ISIS, targeting Palestine Hospital and Safad Street.
These incidents have caused an overwhelming humanitarian crisis, especially within areas controlled by ISIS, and in firing zones where residents have not been able to evacuate over the past 24hrs.
ISIS imposed a curfew in the areas they control, including Palestine Mosque where the main water distribution point is located. This has left residents of Yarmouk Camp with no access to drinking water since ISIS broke into the camp. Aid flow into the camp has stopped, causing more deterioration of the humanitarian situation, especially among civilians.
4 fatalities have been confirmed to date; one was the result of sniper fire and three were killed by shelling. Two victims/fatalities were buried in Abdul Qader Al Hussini Park, as the cemetery is located in an ISIS-controlled area, southern the camp.
In the second day, ISIS managed to breakthrough Al Ja’aouna Street down to the ends of Al Basil hospital. This has increased the ISIS-controlled areas to approximately %65 of the camp.
In the afternoon of the second day, armed groups affiliated to the Syrian opposition proceeded to Yarmouk Camp coming from south of Damascus and positioned at the southern entrance of the camp, where they have clashed with Al Nusra Front and ISIS near Palestine square at the entrance of Yelda Town; as this report is being published.
The AGPS confirms receiving several emergency appeals by the camp residents, especially those who live in firing zones and those trapped in the areas controlled by ISIS and Al Nusra Front. Appeals were mainly about the panic and severe shortage of all basic food supplies, and the lack of access to drinking water among the residents. The widespread of snipers on rooftops of most places in the camp made it extremely difficult for any movement.
In the wake of these serious developments, and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation as a result of halting aid, the AGPS calls on all international organizations, especially the humanitarian organizations to exert more efforts to ensure entry of humanitarian aid or to propose initiatives to put an end to bloodshed.
AGPS urges all Palestinian and Syrian parties, in-country and abroad, to take responsibility and immediately act to stop the deteriorating situation in the camp. AGPS blames the Syrian regime for direct responsibility over the continued closure of the camp, keeping thousands of Palestinian civilians hostages to the ongoing situation in the country.
Last but not least, the Palestinian leadership, represented by the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian factions are silently watching what is happening and must take actions now at all levels to put an end to the suffering of Palestinian refugees in Syria.
