The United Nations has expressed deep concern over the safety of some 50,000 people trapped at Syria’s southern border with Jordan amid reports about lack of basic commodities.
In a statement released on Sunday, the UN said that an estimated 4,000 people at Hadalat and 45,000 mostly women and children at Rukban were stuck on the frontier.
The UN went on to say that the situation for those who remain is worsened by the scarcity of services available in the area, especially food and health care.
“The supply route to the area for food and other basic commodities from inside Syria has become increasingly constrained in recent weeks,” the statement added.
“Due to air strikes that have been reported to be in the area over the last couple of days, distress and fear have been heightened amongst the population with the risk of escalated hostilities.”
Imad Ghali, Director of the media office of the “Bridges of Hope” aid group told Inab Baladi news network that basic food items have completely ran out in the Rukban refugee camp, especially sugar, flour, and oil. Residents of the camp have been making appeals to the United Nations and relief organizations to intervene to provide assistance to the refugees.
The Assad regime have recently launched a large-scale military operation in the area to take full control of the border with Jordan.
“Air strikes have been reported in the area in the last few days, and the area is reported to be increasingly unsafe. Some people are reportedly attempting to leave the area, risking further danger and deprivation in an inhospitable desert location,” the UN added.
The UN warned that the Hadalat refugee camp, where there are an estimated 4,000 people living, has become isolated with residents living solely on flour and water. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department + Agencies)
