UN warns 20,000 could starve in Syria’s blockaded camp

Situation in Yarmouk is 'beyond desperate'

The United Nations last night warned that more than 20,000 civilians are in imminent danger of starving to death in a Palestinian refugee camp that has become a key battleground in the Syrian civil war.

The looming humanitarian crisis in Yarmouk, on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, Damascus, was described as “beyond desperate” by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees.

A fragile agreement between the warring factions to allow food into the camp has broken down, and for 10 days no food has been allowed through a government blockade of the area, the scene of fierce fighting between the Syrian Army and rebels.

Chris Gunness, of UNRWA, said yesterday: “This is the 10th consecutive day that UNRWA has been unable to distribute food assistance. Given that a food parcel lasts for a maximum of 10 days, from tomorrow there will be no UN food in the camp.

“Even before this there were reports of deaths from starvation, mothers feeding their children with grass and spices picked up from the street. The situation in Yarmouk was already desperate. Now it is beyond desperate.”

Until the outbreak of war in Syria, Yarmouk was a thriving haven for as many as 250,000 Palestinian refugees living alongside thousands of Syrians. But in December 2012 the area was infiltrated by rebel groups, who were branded “terrorists” by President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

Civilians who could not escape found themselves trapped as a Syrian army bombardment reduced most buildings to rubble. In July 2013, government forces succeeded in imposing a tight blockade around the district. It wasn’t until January this year that a fragile agreement was brokered between all warring factions to allow in food.

Mr Gunness said even before the deal’s breakdown, the situation had been critical for some 18,000 Palestinians and more than 2,000 Syrian civilians trapped in Yarmouk. He said: “Only about 100 food parcels a day were getting through; 700 were needed.

“UNRWA is deeply concerned about the humanitarian crisis in a capital city of a UN member state, in the 21st century, as a result of direct political choice.”