16 apr 2014
Three Palestinians were killed in Syria on Tuesday following the renewed shelling and the unbroken siege imposed on the refugee camps. According to the Action Group for Palestinians in Syria: “The little girl Tabarak Hijazi was killed after a mortar shell landed in Dwilaa area in the Yarmouk refugee camp, south of Damascus.”
The Group added in a statement on Wednesday: “The ongoing shelling and clashes left the boys Mahmoud Kazmouz and Khaled Hussein dead.”
In a related context, the Handrat refugee camp in Aleppo was bombarded yesterday with explosive barrels by Syrian regime forces, causing considerable damage to the inhabitants’ houses. Confrontations are still going on in the camp between regime and opposition forces.
Khan el-Sheikh and Deraa camps were also subject to brutal shelling targeting civilians’ homes. Clashes are still going on between regime and free army forces in the vicinity of both camps.
A state of relative calm, however, prevailed in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, where food-aid access has been blocked for seven consecutive days. The camp has been besieged by regime forces and armed groups for 10 uninterrupted months.
The Action Group for Palestinians in Syria documented the death of more than 2200 Palestinian refugees since the eruption of the Syrian conflict.
The Group added in a statement on Wednesday: “The ongoing shelling and clashes left the boys Mahmoud Kazmouz and Khaled Hussein dead.”
In a related context, the Handrat refugee camp in Aleppo was bombarded yesterday with explosive barrels by Syrian regime forces, causing considerable damage to the inhabitants’ houses. Confrontations are still going on in the camp between regime and opposition forces.
Khan el-Sheikh and Deraa camps were also subject to brutal shelling targeting civilians’ homes. Clashes are still going on between regime and free army forces in the vicinity of both camps.
A state of relative calm, however, prevailed in the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, where food-aid access has been blocked for seven consecutive days. The camp has been besieged by regime forces and armed groups for 10 uninterrupted months.
The Action Group for Palestinians in Syria documented the death of more than 2200 Palestinian refugees since the eruption of the Syrian conflict.
15 apr 2014
The Action group for Palestinians in Syria has documented the death of 2202 Palestinians since the start of the events in Syria until 14th April. It said in a statement on Tuesday that three others died on Monday of starvation and lack of medical care in addition to shelling on refugee camps.
The statement said that 57-year-old Shamsiya Shtiwe, from Sabbina refugee camp, died due to lack of medical care in Yarmouk refugee camp, where she had resettled.
It said that Mohammed Dhiab, 26, was killed in clashes between the Syrian Free Army and members of Fatah-intifada, an offshoot of Fatah faction allied with the Syrian regime.
Ali Yacoub died under torture in Syrian regime prisons where he was held for the past eight months, the group said.
Meanwhile, Nairab refugee camp in Aleppo came under heavy shelling by Syrian regime forces, which caused severe material damage to citizens’ houses.
Violent clashes were reported between Syrian regular army and the Free Army in Diraa refugee camp while similar clashes were reported near to Aydeen refugee camp in Homs.
The statement said that 57-year-old Shamsiya Shtiwe, from Sabbina refugee camp, died due to lack of medical care in Yarmouk refugee camp, where she had resettled.
It said that Mohammed Dhiab, 26, was killed in clashes between the Syrian Free Army and members of Fatah-intifada, an offshoot of Fatah faction allied with the Syrian regime.
Ali Yacoub died under torture in Syrian regime prisons where he was held for the past eight months, the group said.
Meanwhile, Nairab refugee camp in Aleppo came under heavy shelling by Syrian regime forces, which caused severe material damage to citizens’ houses.
Violent clashes were reported between Syrian regular army and the Free Army in Diraa refugee camp while similar clashes were reported near to Aydeen refugee camp in Homs.
14 apr 2014
Qais Al-Najjar
The action group for the Palestinians in Syria reported the death of three Palestinian refugees, two of them were killed in earlier incidents in Syria. The action group explained that Qais Al-Najjar, a veterinarian, was killed in a projectile attack on Hamra neighborhood in Homs city and Ali Abu Nabbout was killed in armed clashes on the fourth of April.
The action group for the Palestinians in Syria reported the death of three Palestinian refugees, two of them were killed in earlier incidents in Syria. The action group explained that Qais Al-Najjar, a veterinarian, was killed in a projectile attack on Hamra neighborhood in Homs city and Ali Abu Nabbout was killed in armed clashes on the fourth of April.
Mohamed Mansour
The group also reported that Mohamed Mansour, a Palestinian refugee from Al-Yarmouk refugee camp, was proclaimed dead on Sunday after his exposure to excruciating torture in a Syrian jail.
The group noted the death toll of the blockade imposed on Al-Yarmouk refugee camp amounted to 143 victims, all of them died of starvation and malnutrition.
The group also reported that Mohamed Mansour, a Palestinian refugee from Al-Yarmouk refugee camp, was proclaimed dead on Sunday after his exposure to excruciating torture in a Syrian jail.
The group noted the death toll of the blockade imposed on Al-Yarmouk refugee camp amounted to 143 victims, all of them died of starvation and malnutrition.
Ali Abu Nabbout
In another report, the action group for the Palestinians in Syria stated that 21 Palestinians had died or killed from 7 to 13 April as a result of the blockade imposed on Al-Yarmouk camp or during armed confrontations or shelling in different parts of Syria.
It noted that eight of those victims were tortured to death in Syrian detention centers.
In another report, the action group for the Palestinians in Syria stated that 21 Palestinians had died or killed from 7 to 13 April as a result of the blockade imposed on Al-Yarmouk camp or during armed confrontations or shelling in different parts of Syria.
It noted that eight of those victims were tortured to death in Syrian detention centers.
Seventy percent of Gaza's residents are registered as refugees with the UNRWA
The UNRWA will deliver aid packages to 9000 families on Sunday, spokesman Adnan Abu Hassana told Anadolu Agency.
He added that the rest of the beneficiaries will get their packages within the coming days.
Abu Hassana explained that the aid delivery was delayed a few days over "technical reasons."
"These aid deliveries help impoverished families and would never stop," he said.
The U.N. agency, established in 1949 following the Israeli occupation of Palestine, distributes quarterly food supplies to families that fall below the poverty line in the blockaded Gaza enclave, home to around 1.8 million Palestinians.
It classifies those below poverty line in Gaza into two categories; those with daily income of less than $3 per family member and those with less than $1.5 daily income per family member.
Seventy percent of Gaza's residents are registered as refugees with the UNRWA, with the number expected to rise by 2020.
Source: World Bulletin
The UNRWA will deliver aid packages to 9000 families on Sunday, spokesman Adnan Abu Hassana told Anadolu Agency.
He added that the rest of the beneficiaries will get their packages within the coming days.
Abu Hassana explained that the aid delivery was delayed a few days over "technical reasons."
"These aid deliveries help impoverished families and would never stop," he said.
The U.N. agency, established in 1949 following the Israeli occupation of Palestine, distributes quarterly food supplies to families that fall below the poverty line in the blockaded Gaza enclave, home to around 1.8 million Palestinians.
It classifies those below poverty line in Gaza into two categories; those with daily income of less than $3 per family member and those with less than $1.5 daily income per family member.
Seventy percent of Gaza's residents are registered as refugees with the UNRWA, with the number expected to rise by 2020.
Source: World Bulletin
13 apr 2014
A Palestinian refugee was killed Saturday evening under torture in the Syrian regime prison ; Palestinian camps subjected to extensive bombing. Action Group for Palestinians in Syria said Ahmed Taha from al- Yarmouk refugee camp was tortured to death in the Syrian prisons on 10th April, pointing out that he was arrested in 2nd April after leaving the camp to proceed his study.
Khan Danoun refugee camp in Damascus countryside was shelled with several bombs, the group added.
The Group added that an explosive bomb, exploded before one of the Palestinian houses, caused several physical damages in al-Yarmouk refugee camp.
Amnesty International said the Syrian army was using starvation as a “weapon of war” in its siege of Yarmouk, where it said nearly 200 people have died since the tightening of the siege, including 128 who starved to death.
It said Yarmouk was the deadliest of several blockades set up of civilian areas across the country, some by the army and some by Syrian rebels.
Khan Danoun refugee camp in Damascus countryside was shelled with several bombs, the group added.
The Group added that an explosive bomb, exploded before one of the Palestinian houses, caused several physical damages in al-Yarmouk refugee camp.
Amnesty International said the Syrian army was using starvation as a “weapon of war” in its siege of Yarmouk, where it said nearly 200 people have died since the tightening of the siege, including 128 who starved to death.
It said Yarmouk was the deadliest of several blockades set up of civilian areas across the country, some by the army and some by Syrian rebels.
12 apr 2014
Brothers Ahmed and Basel Azima were killed under torture
Four Palestinian refugees were proclaimed dead on Friday, two of them were killed under torture in a Syrian jail, according to the action group for the Palestinians in Syria.
The group said that two brothers named Ahmed and Basel Azima were tortured to death in a Syrian detention center, noting that both of them had been kidnapped by the Syrian regime one year ago.
Other two young refugees from Khan Danoun camp were killed in the armed clashes that broke out before yesterday in the vicinity of the camp, the group added.
An unidentified militant group released Mohamed and Alaa Shahin, Palestinian refugees from Neirab camp, one month after they were kidnapped.
Local sources from Khan Younis refugee camp reported the fall of barrel bombs on the camp and the occurrence of considerable damage to many civilian homes. They reported no casualties among the residents.
In Al-Yarmouk refugee camp to the south of Damascus, a group of armed men went on a march to express their rejection of any truce or initiative to neutralize the camp.
Daraa refugee camp also saw violent armed confrontations between Free Army fighters and the Syrian regime forces backed by Lebanese militias.
In a separate incident, a number of Palestinian and Syrian refuge seekers staged a sit-in outside the headquarters of the UN high commissioners for refugee in Bangkok, Thailand, to shed light on their humanitarian suffering and protest the detention of their compatriots in Thai prisons
Four Palestinian refugees were proclaimed dead on Friday, two of them were killed under torture in a Syrian jail, according to the action group for the Palestinians in Syria.
The group said that two brothers named Ahmed and Basel Azima were tortured to death in a Syrian detention center, noting that both of them had been kidnapped by the Syrian regime one year ago.
Other two young refugees from Khan Danoun camp were killed in the armed clashes that broke out before yesterday in the vicinity of the camp, the group added.
An unidentified militant group released Mohamed and Alaa Shahin, Palestinian refugees from Neirab camp, one month after they were kidnapped.
Local sources from Khan Younis refugee camp reported the fall of barrel bombs on the camp and the occurrence of considerable damage to many civilian homes. They reported no casualties among the residents.
In Al-Yarmouk refugee camp to the south of Damascus, a group of armed men went on a march to express their rejection of any truce or initiative to neutralize the camp.
Daraa refugee camp also saw violent armed confrontations between Free Army fighters and the Syrian regime forces backed by Lebanese militias.
In a separate incident, a number of Palestinian and Syrian refuge seekers staged a sit-in outside the headquarters of the UN high commissioners for refugee in Bangkok, Thailand, to shed light on their humanitarian suffering and protest the detention of their compatriots in Thai prisons
A delegation of Hamas Movement has met on Friday with the Lebanese Information Minister Ramzi Jarih in his office in Beirut. The delegation included the representative of the movement in Lebanon Ali Baraka, Hamas information official in Lebanon Raafat Marra and a member of Hamas political leadership in Lebanon Mashhour Abdel Halim.
Baraka stated that they have discussed recent Palestinian developments particularly Israel’s escalated Judaization policy.
US Secretary of State John Kerry's plan is totally biased in favor of Israeli occupation's position that denies the right of return, he said, stressing Palestinian people's adherence to their right of return.
The meeting also discussed Palestinian refugees' conditions in Lebanese refugee camps. “We have briefed Lebanon's information minister about Hamas's initiative issued on the 28th of March that stressed the movement's keenness on Lebanese security”, Ali Baraka said, confirming that Palestinians can only be a part of Lebanon's stability.
He expressed his rejection and condemnation to the use of Palestinian refugee camps as tools to target Lebanese security.
For his part, Lebanon's Information Minister expressed his support to Palestinian issues particularly the Palestinian prisoners' issue, emphasizing that the Palestinian cause remains the central issue for all Arab countries.
Baraka stated that they have discussed recent Palestinian developments particularly Israel’s escalated Judaization policy.
US Secretary of State John Kerry's plan is totally biased in favor of Israeli occupation's position that denies the right of return, he said, stressing Palestinian people's adherence to their right of return.
The meeting also discussed Palestinian refugees' conditions in Lebanese refugee camps. “We have briefed Lebanon's information minister about Hamas's initiative issued on the 28th of March that stressed the movement's keenness on Lebanese security”, Ali Baraka said, confirming that Palestinians can only be a part of Lebanon's stability.
He expressed his rejection and condemnation to the use of Palestinian refugee camps as tools to target Lebanese security.
For his part, Lebanon's Information Minister expressed his support to Palestinian issues particularly the Palestinian prisoners' issue, emphasizing that the Palestinian cause remains the central issue for all Arab countries.
11 apr 2014
News about Palestinian Refugees Distressed calls of refugee survivors from a drowning in Greece Palestinian-Syrian refugees were rescued from drowning in Greece and they expressed their distress about getting human rights and relief to the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) to put an end to their suffering.
The refugees have been rescued from drowning while trying to reach Greece through Turkey, and they currently suffer from very poor living conditions. It is very difficult for them to find shelter and food, especially after they had lost all their belongings and money that was with them in the sea.
According to information issued by one of the survivors, the Greek authorities detained the refugees and made them stay for over two days, and then they were released. The refugees pointed out that they were left them homeless without food or money. Greece only provided them with assistance through a local organization for only a limited period of time, and then informed them that they were not able to help them any longer, which only adds to the refugees’ suffering.
In related news, the Office of the United Nations refugee agency said seven refugees, including two children, illegally migrated to Europe, and they got into a shipwreck off the coast of the Greece. The ship was coming from Turkey. The UN also announced that there are still people missing from this wreck, and they have still not been found until now.
The survivors and victims of this accident were Syrians. Commissioners have called on the European Union to improve communication and conditions in dealing with refugees fleeing wars, and to create alternatives to legal migration for the Syrian refugees. Thousands of Palestinians and Syrians are forced to illegally migrate to escape the oppression of the Syrian regime and the ongoing war in Syria, and they come across obstacles when they reach Europe. Since it is difficult to obtain a visa, civilians have resorted to traveling by sea. However, most of the refugees have traveled by small boats, and that is what led to many shipwrecks.
Almost all of these victims were refugees. Last year, there was a ship which sank near the Italian coast that killed 250 people and the majority of these people were Palestinians from the Yarmouk refugee camp.
The refugees have been rescued from drowning while trying to reach Greece through Turkey, and they currently suffer from very poor living conditions. It is very difficult for them to find shelter and food, especially after they had lost all their belongings and money that was with them in the sea.
According to information issued by one of the survivors, the Greek authorities detained the refugees and made them stay for over two days, and then they were released. The refugees pointed out that they were left them homeless without food or money. Greece only provided them with assistance through a local organization for only a limited period of time, and then informed them that they were not able to help them any longer, which only adds to the refugees’ suffering.
In related news, the Office of the United Nations refugee agency said seven refugees, including two children, illegally migrated to Europe, and they got into a shipwreck off the coast of the Greece. The ship was coming from Turkey. The UN also announced that there are still people missing from this wreck, and they have still not been found until now.
The survivors and victims of this accident were Syrians. Commissioners have called on the European Union to improve communication and conditions in dealing with refugees fleeing wars, and to create alternatives to legal migration for the Syrian refugees. Thousands of Palestinians and Syrians are forced to illegally migrate to escape the oppression of the Syrian regime and the ongoing war in Syria, and they come across obstacles when they reach Europe. Since it is difficult to obtain a visa, civilians have resorted to traveling by sea. However, most of the refugees have traveled by small boats, and that is what led to many shipwrecks.
Almost all of these victims were refugees. Last year, there was a ship which sank near the Italian coast that killed 250 people and the majority of these people were Palestinians from the Yarmouk refugee camp.
Wassim Abou Zina
Two Palestinians were killed, including one tortured to death, on Thursday in the war-torn Syria.
The action group for Palestinians in Syria said in a statement that Wassim Abou Zina from Yarmouk refugee camp was killed under torture in a Syrian prison after being arrested outside the faculty of Information Technology of Engineering in Damascus. Hussein Ali, from Neirab refugee camp, was killed following the violent confrontations that broke out in Aleppo.
Along the same line, mortar shells slammed into Germana refugee camp in Damascus while mosques called on civilians to stay at home because of the ceaseless shelling.
In Aleppo, several funerals were held for the casualties of Lirmon confrontations who were killed last Wednesday.
Absurdly enough, the convoy was shot right after the cadavers reached the camp, leading to a head wound among the partakers.
A state of relative calmness overwhelmed yesterday the Yarmouk refugee camp which has been blocked for nine uninterrupted months, leading to hospital and baking services suspension in the besieged camp, where barriers have been set by the regime army and Popular Front groups so as to block the entry of food aid access and medical supplies into the camp.
Two Palestinians were killed, including one tortured to death, on Thursday in the war-torn Syria.
The action group for Palestinians in Syria said in a statement that Wassim Abou Zina from Yarmouk refugee camp was killed under torture in a Syrian prison after being arrested outside the faculty of Information Technology of Engineering in Damascus. Hussein Ali, from Neirab refugee camp, was killed following the violent confrontations that broke out in Aleppo.
Along the same line, mortar shells slammed into Germana refugee camp in Damascus while mosques called on civilians to stay at home because of the ceaseless shelling.
In Aleppo, several funerals were held for the casualties of Lirmon confrontations who were killed last Wednesday.
Absurdly enough, the convoy was shot right after the cadavers reached the camp, leading to a head wound among the partakers.
A state of relative calmness overwhelmed yesterday the Yarmouk refugee camp which has been blocked for nine uninterrupted months, leading to hospital and baking services suspension in the besieged camp, where barriers have been set by the regime army and Popular Front groups so as to block the entry of food aid access and medical supplies into the camp.
10 apr 2014
Seven Palestinians were killed on Wednesday in armed violence in Syria, according to the action group for the Palestinians in Syria. The action group said that a Palestinian civilian refugee named Mustafa Abu Raya was killed in the armed clashes that broke out yesterday between militants in Al-Yarmouk camp.
Other six Palestinian militants, from a brigade fighting for the Syrian regime, were also killed during their involvement in armed confrontations with groups from the Free Army in Al-Lairamun area in Aleppo city, according to the action group.
Al-Yarmouk refugee camp also saw violent armed clashes between the popular front-general command, an ally of the Syrian regime, and militant groups. One Syrian civilian was killed and many other Palestinian refugees were wounded during the violence.
Other six Palestinian militants, from a brigade fighting for the Syrian regime, were also killed during their involvement in armed confrontations with groups from the Free Army in Al-Lairamun area in Aleppo city, according to the action group.
Al-Yarmouk refugee camp also saw violent armed clashes between the popular front-general command, an ally of the Syrian regime, and militant groups. One Syrian civilian was killed and many other Palestinian refugees were wounded during the violence.
Three Palestinian female refugees, from Lebanon's refugee camps, have received a human rights award in Denmark. The three females, identified as Afaf Zaid and Isra and Fatena Maroof, were awarded by the Danish Justice Minister for their project on treatment of crimes among youths.
The Palestinian community is considered Denmark’s oldest and largest community, where large waves of Palestinian refugees have immigrated after Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe) for education and work purposes due to the poor living conditions in refugee camps.
The Palestinian community is considered Denmark’s oldest and largest community, where large waves of Palestinian refugees have immigrated after Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe) for education and work purposes due to the poor living conditions in refugee camps.
9 apr 2014
Three years since the uprising in Syria began, ordinary civilians are being intentionally starved to death. Besieged by the Syrian government and armed opposition groups, some have been reduced to eating cats.
Inside Yarmouk
Yarmouk is a highly built up area of about two square kilometres on the south side of Damascus. Yarmouk was home to about 180,000 Palestinian refugees and several hundred thousand Syrians.
The siege of Yarmouk by government forces began in December 2012 and since July 2013, except for a few occasions, the Syrian army has prevented the entry of all people, food and goods. Today 17,000 to 20,000 people remain trapped in Yarmouk.
Starvation
Yarmouk's civilians have been brought to the brink of starvation, forced to forage for food.
Between July 2013 and up to 25 February 2014 we have recorded the deaths of 194 people, including 12 babies, six children and 41 elderly people. Two-thirds have died of starvation.
'The last time I ate vegetables was more than eight months ago'
A Yamouk resident
At first, when flour ran out, they used lentils and then bulgur wheat to bake alternatives. When these ran out or became too expensive they survived by scavenging for anything that might be edible including cactus and dandelion leaves.
'I eat anything I can get my hands on. I eat on average one meal every 30 hours. Either we have to go to the small field areas overlooked by snipers, looking for herbs, or group together to buy a kilo of rice or lentils at 10,000 Syrian pounds (£41) and cook it, but we cannot afford to do this each day due to the cost.'
A Yamouk resident
We have recorded at least two people being killed by government snipers while foraging for food in the small fields adjacent to Yarmouk.
A hospital nurse told us of a teenager who had been shot dead while collecting leaves to eat. Addressing the lifeless boy, his grieving father said: 'You died for the sake of brining hibiscus leaves for your brothers and sisters.'
Recently a young girl was taken to hospital suffering from stomach problems after her family had killed and eaten a dog.
Urgently needed health care
Of the 194 deaths we have recorded, 51 died because of a lack of medical care.
Hospitals and other medical facilities have been particularly badly hit and medics have been targeted.
'As soon as I arrived [at Palestine Hospital] a health worker told me that my husband hadn't made it. There were no doctors at the hospital because a few days earlier, Dr Aladdin Youssef was arrested and so others were scared to come to the hospital'
Widow of Ghassan Shihabi
Today, after being besieged for months, no surgeons remain at Palestine Hospital. A medical worker told us: 'any necessary surgery is carried out by nurses who are learning by experience and study.'
In December 2013 and January 2014 three women and five newborn babies died because the hospital was unable to give them the medical treatment they needed. People we have spoken to have told us that the elderly and babies are suffering the most.
'Babies are dying because there is no milk, neither powder nor from their own mothers.'
A medical worker
Arbitary arrests
150 people have been arrested by government forces since April 2011 including 12 medics. However according to local activists the real number could be in the thousands. All our sources insist the majority were civilians.
On 2 February 2014, 27 people were arrested as they went to collect food from an army checkpoint. We don't know what has happened to them.
On 3 February 2014, Mahmoud Mou'ad, a humanitarian aid worker, was seized by forces loyal to the Syrian government. The authorities have provided no information about him since he was detained.
The residents of Yarmouk are not alone. Their stories are repeated across the country. Around 250,000 civilians are living under siege in Syria. World leaders must act to ensure immediate humanitarian access to end the suffering of ordinary civilians who have been caught up in the conflict.
Downloads Squeezing the life out of Yarmouk: War crimes against besieged civilians [PDF]
Inside Yarmouk
Yarmouk is a highly built up area of about two square kilometres on the south side of Damascus. Yarmouk was home to about 180,000 Palestinian refugees and several hundred thousand Syrians.
The siege of Yarmouk by government forces began in December 2012 and since July 2013, except for a few occasions, the Syrian army has prevented the entry of all people, food and goods. Today 17,000 to 20,000 people remain trapped in Yarmouk.
Starvation
Yarmouk's civilians have been brought to the brink of starvation, forced to forage for food.
Between July 2013 and up to 25 February 2014 we have recorded the deaths of 194 people, including 12 babies, six children and 41 elderly people. Two-thirds have died of starvation.
'The last time I ate vegetables was more than eight months ago'
A Yamouk resident
At first, when flour ran out, they used lentils and then bulgur wheat to bake alternatives. When these ran out or became too expensive they survived by scavenging for anything that might be edible including cactus and dandelion leaves.
'I eat anything I can get my hands on. I eat on average one meal every 30 hours. Either we have to go to the small field areas overlooked by snipers, looking for herbs, or group together to buy a kilo of rice or lentils at 10,000 Syrian pounds (£41) and cook it, but we cannot afford to do this each day due to the cost.'
A Yamouk resident
We have recorded at least two people being killed by government snipers while foraging for food in the small fields adjacent to Yarmouk.
A hospital nurse told us of a teenager who had been shot dead while collecting leaves to eat. Addressing the lifeless boy, his grieving father said: 'You died for the sake of brining hibiscus leaves for your brothers and sisters.'
Recently a young girl was taken to hospital suffering from stomach problems after her family had killed and eaten a dog.
Urgently needed health care
Of the 194 deaths we have recorded, 51 died because of a lack of medical care.
Hospitals and other medical facilities have been particularly badly hit and medics have been targeted.
'As soon as I arrived [at Palestine Hospital] a health worker told me that my husband hadn't made it. There were no doctors at the hospital because a few days earlier, Dr Aladdin Youssef was arrested and so others were scared to come to the hospital'
Widow of Ghassan Shihabi
Today, after being besieged for months, no surgeons remain at Palestine Hospital. A medical worker told us: 'any necessary surgery is carried out by nurses who are learning by experience and study.'
In December 2013 and January 2014 three women and five newborn babies died because the hospital was unable to give them the medical treatment they needed. People we have spoken to have told us that the elderly and babies are suffering the most.
'Babies are dying because there is no milk, neither powder nor from their own mothers.'
A medical worker
Arbitary arrests
150 people have been arrested by government forces since April 2011 including 12 medics. However according to local activists the real number could be in the thousands. All our sources insist the majority were civilians.
On 2 February 2014, 27 people were arrested as they went to collect food from an army checkpoint. We don't know what has happened to them.
On 3 February 2014, Mahmoud Mou'ad, a humanitarian aid worker, was seized by forces loyal to the Syrian government. The authorities have provided no information about him since he was detained.
The residents of Yarmouk are not alone. Their stories are repeated across the country. Around 250,000 civilians are living under siege in Syria. World leaders must act to ensure immediate humanitarian access to end the suffering of ordinary civilians who have been caught up in the conflict.
Downloads Squeezing the life out of Yarmouk: War crimes against besieged civilians [PDF]
Nasser and Hassan Sakhnini
Three Palestinians refugees were killed under torture in Syrian prisons on Tuesday, including two brothers. The Action Group for Palestinians in Syria documented, in a press release on Wednesday, the death of Ashraf Omar and the two brothers Nasser and Hassan Sakhnini who were tortured to death in Syrian prisons, leading to the rise of the death toll of Palestinian refugees killed under torture in Syrian prisons to 166 Palestinians.
In a related context, limited food-aid quantities were distributed in the besieged Yarmouk refugee camp south of Damascus at a time when several humanitarian cases were allowed to leave the camp.
The camp has been strictly blockaded for nine months. Armed groups have blocked access of food aid and citizens into the camp.
Along the same line, violent confrontations have been reported between regime troops and Free Syrian army in Deraa refugee camp.
The situation is no less alarming in Germana refugee camp where schooling has been exclusive to the administrative and teaching staff only as a precautionary measure taken by UNRWA following the daily shelling targeting the camp area.
A state of relative calm overwhelms the Khan Sheeh refugee camp in Damascus, while roads, linking Qadsiya to neighboring suburbs, were opened before traffic.
Hundreds of Palestinian refugee families, displaced from their camps due to the siege and the frequent shelling, have been living in Qadsiya.
Three Palestinians refugees were killed under torture in Syrian prisons on Tuesday, including two brothers. The Action Group for Palestinians in Syria documented, in a press release on Wednesday, the death of Ashraf Omar and the two brothers Nasser and Hassan Sakhnini who were tortured to death in Syrian prisons, leading to the rise of the death toll of Palestinian refugees killed under torture in Syrian prisons to 166 Palestinians.
In a related context, limited food-aid quantities were distributed in the besieged Yarmouk refugee camp south of Damascus at a time when several humanitarian cases were allowed to leave the camp.
The camp has been strictly blockaded for nine months. Armed groups have blocked access of food aid and citizens into the camp.
Along the same line, violent confrontations have been reported between regime troops and Free Syrian army in Deraa refugee camp.
The situation is no less alarming in Germana refugee camp where schooling has been exclusive to the administrative and teaching staff only as a precautionary measure taken by UNRWA following the daily shelling targeting the camp area.
A state of relative calm overwhelms the Khan Sheeh refugee camp in Damascus, while roads, linking Qadsiya to neighboring suburbs, were opened before traffic.
Hundreds of Palestinian refugee families, displaced from their camps due to the siege and the frequent shelling, have been living in Qadsiya.
8 apr 2014
Hamas representative in Lebanon Ali Baraka on Monday briefed Palestinian premier Ismail Haneyya over the phone on the developments in the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, especially in Mieh Mieh camp, which saw violent clashes on the same day. Premier Haneyya expressed his deep regret for the killing of Palestinians in the armed violence that broke out yesterday between Palestinian groups in Mieh Mieh camp, and called for exercising restraint and address differences through dialog.
The premier stressed the importance of avoiding any violence in the Palestinian refugee camps and contributing to Lebanon's security and stability.
He also reiterated his support for the Palestinian initiative in Ein Hilweh refugee camp, which aims to protect the Palestinian presence in Lebanon and strengthening the Palestinian-Lebanese relations.
For its part, the alliance of Palestinian forces strongly denounced the unfortunate events that happened yesterday morning in Mieh Mieh camp, east of Sidon.
In a press release, the alliance called on all parties to end their clashes immediately and held them fully responsible for causing panic among the innocent people in the camp and killing Palestinians.
It demanded all Palestinian political forces to assume their role in controlling the situations inside the camps in Lebanon, especially in Mieh Mieh and do not allow anyone or group to tamper with their stability.
The calm returned to Mieh Mieh camp after a day of unrest that led to the killing of eight Palestinians and rendered 10 others wounded.
The Lebanese army, for its part, intervened on Monday and cut the roads leading to the camp and barred anyone from going in, while a Palestinian committee was making efforts inside the camp to calm the situation.
The clashes broke out, without prior warning, on Monday morning between militants of Jamal Suleiman's Ansarullah group, a close ally to Hezbollah, and others of Ahmed Rashid's Awdah Martyrs Brigades.
The premier stressed the importance of avoiding any violence in the Palestinian refugee camps and contributing to Lebanon's security and stability.
He also reiterated his support for the Palestinian initiative in Ein Hilweh refugee camp, which aims to protect the Palestinian presence in Lebanon and strengthening the Palestinian-Lebanese relations.
For its part, the alliance of Palestinian forces strongly denounced the unfortunate events that happened yesterday morning in Mieh Mieh camp, east of Sidon.
In a press release, the alliance called on all parties to end their clashes immediately and held them fully responsible for causing panic among the innocent people in the camp and killing Palestinians.
It demanded all Palestinian political forces to assume their role in controlling the situations inside the camps in Lebanon, especially in Mieh Mieh and do not allow anyone or group to tamper with their stability.
The calm returned to Mieh Mieh camp after a day of unrest that led to the killing of eight Palestinians and rendered 10 others wounded.
The Lebanese army, for its part, intervened on Monday and cut the roads leading to the camp and barred anyone from going in, while a Palestinian committee was making efforts inside the camp to calm the situation.
The clashes broke out, without prior warning, on Monday morning between militants of Jamal Suleiman's Ansarullah group, a close ally to Hezbollah, and others of Ahmed Rashid's Awdah Martyrs Brigades.
Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyeh, Monday called on the Palestinian factions in Lebanon to exercise self-restraint and refrain from using force to resolve their problems. In a phone call with Ali Baraka, Hamas representative to Lebanon, Haniyeh pointed to the importance of maintaining the security of Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon and offered his support for the unity and stability of Lebanon by adopting Civilian and humanitarian rights until they able to return to their homeland-Palestine.
Haniyeh expressed his support to the Islamic and national factions for the new Palestinian InitiativeIn Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp which aims to secure the Palestinians in Lebanon and strengthen the relations between Palestine and Lebanon
Meanwhile the Lebanese army imposed a security cordon around the camp, in an attempt to isolate it from other Palestinian refugee camps
Media sources said that nine Palestinians were killed one of them is leader Ahmed Shbak ,when militants from rival Palestinian factions exchanged fire in Lebanon's Mieh Mieh Palestinian refugee camp near Lebanon's southern city of Sidon, in which at least 10 people were wounded.
Armed clashes between the group "Ansar Allah" and a rival group, led by Ahmed Shbak who is closed to well-known Fateh leader Mohammed Dahlan, led to the death of three people from the latter group, and a number injuries.
It is worth to mention that similar clashes were occurred two weeks ago between the same two groups in the same camp, killing two people.
Mieh Mieh and the nearby Ain al-Hilweh, two of the 12 Palestinian camps in Lebanon that are home of more than 200,000 registered refugees.
Haniyeh expressed his support to the Islamic and national factions for the new Palestinian InitiativeIn Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp which aims to secure the Palestinians in Lebanon and strengthen the relations between Palestine and Lebanon
Meanwhile the Lebanese army imposed a security cordon around the camp, in an attempt to isolate it from other Palestinian refugee camps
Media sources said that nine Palestinians were killed one of them is leader Ahmed Shbak ,when militants from rival Palestinian factions exchanged fire in Lebanon's Mieh Mieh Palestinian refugee camp near Lebanon's southern city of Sidon, in which at least 10 people were wounded.
Armed clashes between the group "Ansar Allah" and a rival group, led by Ahmed Shbak who is closed to well-known Fateh leader Mohammed Dahlan, led to the death of three people from the latter group, and a number injuries.
It is worth to mention that similar clashes were occurred two weeks ago between the same two groups in the same camp, killing two people.
Mieh Mieh and the nearby Ain al-Hilweh, two of the 12 Palestinian camps in Lebanon that are home of more than 200,000 registered refugees.
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Two Palestinian refugees died on Monday as a result of the armed violence and the tragic humanitarian situation in the Palestinian refugee camps in Syria.
The action group for the Palestinians in Syria said that Mohamed Judi was killed during the armed clashes that broke out yesterday near Aziza town in Aleppo. An elderly man named Ayman Kurdi (video) also died of hunger and malnutrition in the besieged refugee camp of Al-Yarmouk. In another incident, Daraa refugee camp came under heavy projectile attacks from the Syrian regime army and its militias. |
In Al-Yarmouk camp, the UNRWA relief workers were able to distribute 300 portions of food aid to some Palestinian families and helped some humanitarian cases to leave the camp.
Two Palestinian refugees were reportedly kidnapped in Aleppo and Al-Yarmouk camp, according to the action group.
The action group also said in a separate report that 16 Palestinian refugee were proclaimed dead from March 31 until April 7 as a result of the conflict in Syria.
It noted that five of these victims died of hunger and drought because of the blockade imposed by the Syrian regime forces and their allies on Al-Yarmouk refugee camp.
The group's report highlighted in general the deteriorating living conditions in the Palestinian refugee camps in Syria, which has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011.
Two Palestinian refugees were reportedly kidnapped in Aleppo and Al-Yarmouk camp, according to the action group.
The action group also said in a separate report that 16 Palestinian refugee were proclaimed dead from March 31 until April 7 as a result of the conflict in Syria.
It noted that five of these victims died of hunger and drought because of the blockade imposed by the Syrian regime forces and their allies on Al-Yarmouk refugee camp.
The group's report highlighted in general the deteriorating living conditions in the Palestinian refugee camps in Syria, which has been gripped by deadly violence since 2011.
A number of Palestinian and Syrian refugees, who fled the Syrian war to Greece, complained about their living conditions in the country and appealed to human rights groups to help them. These refugees were rescued about one week ago by the Greek navy after receiving a distress call from their boat, which sustained a mechanical failure off the coast of Crete.
Following the rescue operation, they were detained and interrogated for two days before being released.
All of them suffer from very harsh living conditions, especially after they had been provided with assistance for a few days by a relief group which told them later that it would not be able to continue to support them.
Following the rescue operation, they were detained and interrogated for two days before being released.
All of them suffer from very harsh living conditions, especially after they had been provided with assistance for a few days by a relief group which told them later that it would not be able to continue to support them.