The suffering of thousands of displaced civilians in the Rukban camp along the Syrian-Jordanian border has continued a week passed since the United Nations relief agencies announced it would relieve residents of the camp. Dozens of displaced people suffered difficulties in breathing on Thursday as a result of the sandstorm that hit the region.
Activists in the camp said they had not noticed any signs of humanitarian aid coming to the camp, pointing out that the sandstorm had worsened the suffering of civilians because of the lack of medicines to treat the patients.
Smart news network reported that more than 100 displaced people experienced difficulties in breathing as a result of the sandstorm, adding that strong winds have torn down dozens of tents.
The Syrian Coalition said that the Assad regime’s delaying of the introduction of aid convoys put the lives of civilians in the camp at increasing risk. It stressed that this delay constituted a blatant violation of human rights and a war crime.
The Coalition called on the international relief organizations and international community to relieve children as the most vulnerable. “They are waiting for those who will save them from the starvation being carried out by the Assad regime against them and their families.”
The United Nations announced it would provide aid to the residents of al-Rukban camp for the first time in a month following the Assad regime’s blocking of aid convoys from reaching the camp.
Local media outlets indicated that the camp is home to tens of thousands of displaced persons, including thousands of people with disabilities, including 1,460 women, 1,621 men and 4,273 children. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)
