Palestinian refugees starving in Syria

Dehydration and hunger have caused the death of 15 Palestinian refugees in Yarmuk refugee camp in the outskirts of Damascus according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. UN aidworkers are unable to enter the camp and the humanitarian conditions are worsening dramaticially."We are currently unable to help those trapped inside. If this situation is not addressed urgently, it may be too late to save the lives of thousands of people including children", said UNRWA Commissioner General Filippo Grandi two weeks ago.Before Syria’s civil war began, the camp was home to 150 000 Palestinian refugees. Today only about 20 000 Palestinians remain there, many of them  poor, elderly or children who cannot afford to run away. Both the Syrian army and rebel militias denies the UN aid workers access to the camp.“Since September 2013 we have been unable to enter the area to deliver desperately needed relief supplies,” says UN Relief and Works Agency spokesman Chris GunnessSyria is officially home to nearly half a million Palestinian refugees. Since the war broke out in 2011 half of them have been displaced, becoming refugees for a second time.UN Relief and Works Agency spokesman Chris Gunness is calling “all parties to immediately heed their legal obligations and facilitate the urgent provision of humanitarian assistance to Yarmuk and other Palestinian refugee camps.”