Brussels, 20/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Union is seriously concerned at the constantly worsening humanitarian and security situation of Palestinian refugees in the Yarmouk camp in Syria, and launched an urgent appeal on Saturday 18 April for unconditional humanitarian access to be guaranteed to help these people.
“The conditions in the Palestinian refugee camp in Yarmouk have become critical and need to be addressed with utmost urgency. After three years of besiegement by the Syrian regime, the recent wave of violence in Yarmouk by different fighting sides is putting the population living in the camp at serious risk. The ongoing denial of humanitarian access to the refugees living in the Yarmouk camp by the Syrian regime and other belligerents is unacceptable”, said High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.
She added: “We urge all parties to use their influence over the fighting groups to enable immediate and unconditional humanitarian access and provide safe passage for all civilians who wish to leave Yarmouk.” This is in line with United Nations Security Council Resolutions 2139, 2165 and 2191.
Mogherini gives assurances that the EU will continue to cooperate with Pierre Krähenbühl, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) commissioner general for the Palestinian refugees, and other humanitarian partners to help alleviate the suffering of civilians in distress.
The European Commission released €2.5 million in emergency aid on 7 April to help vulnerable families in the Syrian conflict and particularly Palestinian refugees in the Yarmouk camp (see EUROPE 11289).
The EU calls on Staffan De Mistura, the UN special envoy, “to work with all parties towards the comprehensive implementation of the Geneva communiqué of 30 June 2012 leading to a genuine political transition that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people”. (Aminata Niang)