UN officials have visited the Syrian capital Damascus to call for people who want to leave the Yarmouk refugee camp on the city’s fringes, to be given safe passage.
Yarmouk is home to thousands of Syrians as well as Palestinian refugees.
Some people have managed to escape from the camp, which has been the scene of fierce fighting between government forces, Islamic State militants, and other militia groups.
“Today we remain very worried for the refugees and civilians who are inside Yarmouk,” said Pierre Krahenbuhl, UNRWA Commisioner General. “We are very determined to provide assistance to those who have decided temporarily to leave the camp itself and to find shelter elsewhere and we will also take very seriously the needs of Yalda and Babila.”
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has described Yarmouk as the ‘deepest circle of hell’ In horror that is Syria, #Yarmouk is the deepest circle of hell – #UNSG warns residents incl. children are being turned into human shields— UN Spoke
