December 23, 2024 06:51 am (IST)
Follow us:
Syria: Gunfire forces UN to suspend food delivery
New York, May 6 (IBNS): Gunfire stopped distribution of food on Monday in a besieged Palestinian refugee camp, a United Nations spokesperson confirmed on Monday, reiterating demands that the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees be allowed to safely and without interruption distribute substantial quantities of food and other humanitarian assistance inside Yarmouk.
Spokesman Chris Gunness said the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) distributed food parcels to only 162 civilian families on Monday.
“The UNRWA team arrived at the Bateekhah northern entrance to Yarmouk at 10:00 and was permitted to commence distribution inside Yarmouk at 12:00,” Gunness said.
“Distribution continued at a relatively slow pace until 15:00, when two gunshots impacted the area of the northern Bateekhah entrance, close to UNRWA vehicles and support staff,” he continued.
The gunfire injured at least one civilian bystander, and forced the UNRWA team to withdraw and return to its field office.
“Monday’s incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by civilians and humanitarian personnel in Yarmouk and other contested areas,” Gunness said in a statement following the shooting.
He underscored that “all sides must demonstrate commitment in address the grave humanitarian crisis endured by civilians inside Yarmouk” and that all parties also have a responsible to protect civilians.
While acknowledging Syrian authorities’ assistance in Monday’s distribution, Gunness said UNRWA remains seriously concerned that its efforts are frequently delayed or interrupted.
“Over the last three days, the number of civilian families who have received food parcels is extremely low when compared to the thousands of families in urgent need of UNRWA humanitarian assistance, due to the closed status of Yarmouk,” he noted.
UNRWA has appealed to the Syrian authorities to expand their support to facilitate “regular, substantial, safe” food distributions in Yarmouk and to authorise the distribution of a full range of humanitarian assistance, particularly medicines and medical supplies.
Prior to the armed conflict in Syria, which began in March 2011, Yarmouk was home to over 160,000 Palestine refugees. Since December 2012, fighting has caused at least 140,000 Palestine refugees to flee their homes in Yarmouk, as armed opposition groups established a presence in the area, with Government forces controlling the periphery.
(Civilians in Yarmouk, the majority of whom are Palestine refugees, cautiously approach a food distribution area. Photo: UNRWA)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Brazil: 10 die after small plane crashes in Gramado
Sun, Dec 22 2024
Elon Musk calls for German Chancellor Scholz’s resignation amid deadly attack at Christmas market
Sun, Dec 22 2024
‘Won’t let fall into wrong hands’: Trump threatens to retake Panama Canal amid growing Chinese influence in Panama
Sun, Dec 22 2024
French court convicts eight people for their role in teacher's beheading in Paris suburb
Sat, Dec 21 2024
House of Lords: British PM Keir Starmer nominates Indian-origin Krish Raval for new political peerage
Sat, Dec 21 2024