The United Nations on Friday called for “unhindered humanitarian access” to people fleeing the last pocket of Islamic State jihadists in eastern Syria.
In the past week alone, the U.N. says more than 10,000 people have fled from the conflict zone to Al-Hol, where the main camp for people displaced by the fighting against IS is located.
Since early December at least 29 young children and newborns died on their journey or shortly after arrival at the camp, according to the U.N.
Request Unanswered
“Humanitarian actors have collectively requested forces in control of the area to designate a transit site en route for Al-Hol where life-saving assistance can be provided,” said Andrej Mahecic, spokesman for the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR).
So far the request “remains unanswered,” he told journalists in Geneva.
The area is under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces, backed by a U.S.-led coalition, which are battling the last shreds of the IS “caliphate” near the town of Hajin in the Euphrates River valley.
#EXCLUSIVE – Meeting the last Syrians fleeing the Islamic State Group's caliphate.@romlanglois, @mayssaf24 et @JamesAndreF24 report from Eastern #Syria. pic.twitter.com/G7eTqk1YZX
— FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) January 23, 2019
The UNHCR says families fleeing the Hajin enclave describe a harrowing journey, “wading through mine fields and open fighting.”
Once reaching the SDF positions, “they describe being herded into open trucks and having to endure another arduous journey in winter weather northwards to Al-Hol camp,” a UNHCR statement said.
“Little or no assistance is provided en route to the hungry and cold people, the vast majority of whom are women and children.”
The Syrian conflict has killed 360,000 people and led millions to flee their homes since starting with the brutal repression on anti-government protests in 2011.
“We reiterate our calls for unhindered humanitarian access. It is vital that our teams are able to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance, especially during this harsh winter period,” Mahecic said.
More on the Subject
Since the Syrian uprising and following war eight years ago, over one million Syrians have fled to neighboring Lebanon. They live in makeshift camps with poor infrastructure and tents housing. Earlier this month, storm Norma hit over 547 of those settlements, endangering over 22,000 refugees. A week later, storm Miriam followed, affecting another 23,000 refugees in 626 different sites.
Although many local and international NGOs started preparing for the winter season by distributing winter clothes, boots, and blankets ahead of time, storms Norma and Miriam caused the situation to deteriorate quickly.
As Winter Storms Hit Syrian Refugee Camps in Lebanon, Local NGOs Bear the Burden
