Officials from the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) said that Islamic State militants had entered the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, Yarmouk, which holds over 18,000 residents.
Militants within the Damascus refugee camp were attacking new arrivals throughout the day said the PLO in a statement on Wednesday.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) repeatedly called on Syrian officials to allow aid into the camp, adding,
“UNRWA is extremely concerned about the safety and protection of Syrian and Palestinian civilians in the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk in Damascus, where since early afternoon today, intensive armed conflict has been ongoing between groups present in the area.”
The area around the refugee camp has been controlled by Syrian forces, who have effectively enforced a siege on the camp for three years, in attempts to force residents to flee to other parts of Syria or Lebanon, reports the Guardian.
Militants within the Damascus refugee camp were attacking new arrivals throughout the day said the PLO in a statement on Wednesday.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) repeatedly called on Syrian officials to allow aid into the camp, adding,
“UNRWA is extremely concerned about the safety and protection of Syrian and Palestinian civilians in the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk in Damascus, where since early afternoon today, intensive armed conflict has been ongoing between groups present in the area.”
The area around the refugee camp has been controlled by Syrian forces, who have effectively enforced a siege on the camp for three years, in attempts to force residents to flee to other parts of Syria or Lebanon, reports the Guardian.