Palestinian refugees in the Yarmouk camp are facing a dire humanitarian situation amid the intensification of clashes between Daesh and Al-Nusra Front in the camp, the Jafra Foundation has revealed.

Clashes began the two groups on April 7 are ongoing and being met with indiscriminate shelling by the Assad regime’s forces, leaving the camp heavily besieged and 2,500 families at risk without access to food, water or any of their basic needs. The camp’s water supply has also been contaminated, putting civilians at risk of disease.

There have been four reported deaths, including two people who were beheaded by Daesh; five civilians have also been injured as result of the clashes. Some 20 buildings were burnt in yesterday’s clashes, including a hospital and the checkpoint between Yarmouk camp and the Yelda suburb has been closed since 7 April when Daesh took over. This has meant that civilians are trapped in the camp.

On Tuesday afternoon, the residents of Yarmouk called for the suspension of fighting between Daesh and Al-Nusra Front. In a statement, they also called for the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, other Palestinian factions and UNRWA to take responsibility for the humanitarian plight of civilians.

(MEMO)