9 aug 2016
A Palestinian refugee was killed and over ten civilians were injured on Monday morning in a Russian attack on the Khan Shih refugee camp in war-torn Syria.
According to the Yarmouk Camp Facebook page, the Russian airstrike took away the life of the Palestinian refugee Mahmoud Muhssin al-Khalidi and left over 10 civilians wounded.
The Action Group for Palestinians in Syria said the Russian raid on Khan al-Shih camp targeted civilian homes with cluster bombs, killing a refugee and leaving more than 10 others, including children and women, injured.
The shelling was launched just a few days after the Syrian armed opposition forces issued a statement announcing that they have no military activities at the camp.
Refugees at the Khan al-Shih refugee camp have been subjected to dire living conditions due to the partial blockade imposed on the camp and the lack of medical treatment.
According to the Yarmouk Camp Facebook page, the Russian airstrike took away the life of the Palestinian refugee Mahmoud Muhssin al-Khalidi and left over 10 civilians wounded.
The Action Group for Palestinians in Syria said the Russian raid on Khan al-Shih camp targeted civilian homes with cluster bombs, killing a refugee and leaving more than 10 others, including children and women, injured.
The shelling was launched just a few days after the Syrian armed opposition forces issued a statement announcing that they have no military activities at the camp.
Refugees at the Khan al-Shih refugee camp have been subjected to dire living conditions due to the partial blockade imposed on the camp and the lack of medical treatment.
7 aug 2016
Lebanese media outlets on Sunday reported the occurrence of an explosion in Ain al-Hilweh refugee camp near Sidon city, south of Lebanon.
The explosion happened around midnight Saturday and resulted from throwing a grenade in the Akbara neighborhood of the refugee camp, according to the state's National News Agency.
Luckily, no one died or suffered injuries in the explosion.
The Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon have been seeing for months security tensions and attempts to assassinate national figures from different Palestinian factions.
The explosion happened around midnight Saturday and resulted from throwing a grenade in the Akbara neighborhood of the refugee camp, according to the state's National News Agency.
Luckily, no one died or suffered injuries in the explosion.
The Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon have been seeing for months security tensions and attempts to assassinate national figures from different Palestinian factions.
29 july 2016
Palestinian refugee families and children stranded on the Turkish-Syrian borders appealed to the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to help them take shelter in Turkey.
According to the Palestinians in Turkey website, 12 Palestinian refugee families fleeing the war-tattered Hindarat refugee camp have been taking shelter among olive orchards in the blockaded Azaz city, to the north of Aleppo, with neither food nor water supplies.
Palestinian refugee Abu Tayseer launched a cry for help over the tragic situation endured by refugees on the overcrowded Syria-Turkey borders, where a number of elderly refugees and children are reportedly on the verge of death due to starvation and lack of medical treatment.
He added that the situation has gone from bad to worse after DAESH terrorists and PYD forces have come closer to the area. Several Palestinian refugees fleeing war-torn Syria were killed near the border area and others died onboard of the “death boats” while seeking asylum in Europe.
According to the Palestinians in Turkey website, 12 Palestinian refugee families fleeing the war-tattered Hindarat refugee camp have been taking shelter among olive orchards in the blockaded Azaz city, to the north of Aleppo, with neither food nor water supplies.
Palestinian refugee Abu Tayseer launched a cry for help over the tragic situation endured by refugees on the overcrowded Syria-Turkey borders, where a number of elderly refugees and children are reportedly on the verge of death due to starvation and lack of medical treatment.
He added that the situation has gone from bad to worse after DAESH terrorists and PYD forces have come closer to the area. Several Palestinian refugees fleeing war-torn Syria were killed near the border area and others died onboard of the “death boats” while seeking asylum in Europe.
The Government of Austria has contributed EUR 1 million (US$ 1,109,878) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of the Agency’s health program in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).
The contribution from Austria will go towards ensuring adequate and timely availability of essential medicines and supplies, protecting and promoting women and family health, maintaining immunization coverage against vaccine-preventable childhood illness, and providing care for patients with non-communicable diseases, UNRWA said in a statement.
It added that Austria is a long-standing supporter of UNRWA, having contributed EUR 20,757,811 (US$ 27,915,551) since 2007. The statement pointed out that UNRWA currently operates a network of 65 primary health-care facilities and mobile clinics to serve the more than 2 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA in the West Bank and Gaza, offering preventive, basic and advanced medical care services tailored to each stage of life.
The contribution from Austria will go towards ensuring adequate and timely availability of essential medicines and supplies, protecting and promoting women and family health, maintaining immunization coverage against vaccine-preventable childhood illness, and providing care for patients with non-communicable diseases, UNRWA said in a statement.
It added that Austria is a long-standing supporter of UNRWA, having contributed EUR 20,757,811 (US$ 27,915,551) since 2007. The statement pointed out that UNRWA currently operates a network of 65 primary health-care facilities and mobile clinics to serve the more than 2 million Palestine refugees registered with UNRWA in the West Bank and Gaza, offering preventive, basic and advanced medical care services tailored to each stage of life.
27 july 2016
The Action Group for Palestinians in Syria documented Wednesday the death of 3,275 Palestinian refugees in war-torn Syria.
According to a report released by the Action Group for the first half of 2016, 1,088 Palestinian refugees, including 75 women, have been locked up in Syrian regime jails.
Over 150,000 Palestinian refugees were forcibly displaced to Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, and Libya, along with a number of European states.
80,000 Palestinian refugees reached Europe fleeing war-tattered Syria.
According to a report released by the Action Group for the first half of 2016, 1,088 Palestinian refugees, including 75 women, have been locked up in Syrian regime jails.
Over 150,000 Palestinian refugees were forcibly displaced to Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, and Libya, along with a number of European states.
80,000 Palestinian refugees reached Europe fleeing war-tattered Syria.
22 july 2016
WARNING: content graphic in nature
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The Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, on Thursday, condemned the heinous murder of 12-year-old Abdullah Issa, a Palestinian refugee in Syria and demanded immediate international intervention to bring those behind the beheading to justice.
Chief Palestinian negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat issued a press release, recently, in which he addressed a video circulating on social media, on Tuesday, that showed rebel fighters beheading a boy after capturing him north of Syria’s second city, Aleppo. The video shows the boy lying down in the back of a truck as a fighter begins to cut off his head with a small knife. |
One fighter shouts “We will leave no one in Handarat!”, an area north of Aleppo city, where there has been fighting between rebels and government forces.
Another video showed the fighters accusing the boy with being a member of al-Quds Brigades, a Palestinian group fighting with the government forces. According to media sources, Al-Quds Brigades denied that Issa was one of its fighters.
Erekat condemned the “cowardly and cruel action committed by the terrorist Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement”, one of the independent insurgent groups involved in the Syrian Civil War, once deemed “moderate” by the US.
He called on the international community and the United Nations to learn the lesson and work effectively to provide the Palestinian people, in Palestine and refugee camps around the world with protection, end the occupation, and support the establishment of a Palestinian state and the return of refugees.
Erekat added, “For a century, the Palestinian people have been facing all sorts of ethnic cleansing and have become refugees for more than once because of Israel, the occupying power. It is time for the world to speak up and take on measures to end the terrorist actions against our people.”
The Palestinian leadership announced that it is closely following with several Arab and international bodies to bring those responsible for the heinous crime to justice using all possible legal ways.
Anwar Abdul Hadi, head of the political department at the PLO office in Damascus condemned the crime and told WAFA, “This is a heinous crime committed by a terrorist group against a boy who has Thalassemia and was abducted from a hospital.”
Erekat and Abdul Hadi drew a similarity between the murder of Issa, the murder of Mohammad Abu Khudeir who was burned alive by Israeli settlers in Jerusalem, and 12-year-old Mohammad al-Durrah who was killed by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip.
Following the beheading, Nour al-Din al-Zenki issued a statement condemning what is described as a “violation” that was “an individual mistake, that does not represent the general policy of the group”.
According to the statement, the group arrested the persons who carried out this violation and handed them over to a judicial committee for investigation.”
Another video showed the fighters accusing the boy with being a member of al-Quds Brigades, a Palestinian group fighting with the government forces. According to media sources, Al-Quds Brigades denied that Issa was one of its fighters.
Erekat condemned the “cowardly and cruel action committed by the terrorist Nour al-Din al-Zenki Movement”, one of the independent insurgent groups involved in the Syrian Civil War, once deemed “moderate” by the US.
He called on the international community and the United Nations to learn the lesson and work effectively to provide the Palestinian people, in Palestine and refugee camps around the world with protection, end the occupation, and support the establishment of a Palestinian state and the return of refugees.
Erekat added, “For a century, the Palestinian people have been facing all sorts of ethnic cleansing and have become refugees for more than once because of Israel, the occupying power. It is time for the world to speak up and take on measures to end the terrorist actions against our people.”
The Palestinian leadership announced that it is closely following with several Arab and international bodies to bring those responsible for the heinous crime to justice using all possible legal ways.
Anwar Abdul Hadi, head of the political department at the PLO office in Damascus condemned the crime and told WAFA, “This is a heinous crime committed by a terrorist group against a boy who has Thalassemia and was abducted from a hospital.”
Erekat and Abdul Hadi drew a similarity between the murder of Issa, the murder of Mohammad Abu Khudeir who was burned alive by Israeli settlers in Jerusalem, and 12-year-old Mohammad al-Durrah who was killed by Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip.
Following the beheading, Nour al-Din al-Zenki issued a statement condemning what is described as a “violation” that was “an individual mistake, that does not represent the general policy of the group”.
According to the statement, the group arrested the persons who carried out this violation and handed them over to a judicial committee for investigation.”
21 july 2016
The UNRWA has said that the humanitarian situation remains extremely difficult for the Palestinian refugees and Syrian civilians in Syria as the international community is seeking a political solution to the six-year conflict in the country.
In a recent renewed appeal for funding, the UNRWA added that its need for funds for its humanitarian aid services has become more critical than ever.
According to the UN agency, the armed violence in Syria has caused mass displacement that reached over 60 percent of the Palestinian community and greatly affected UNRWA programs and assets.
It pointed out that the majority of the estimated 450,000 Palestinians refugees remaining in Syria are displaced and in dire need of relief services, stressing that 95 percent of them rely completely on its assistance.
The agency says it provides humanitarian support in the forms of cash, food and non-food items, and collective shelter assistance, and despite the conflict, it continues to offer essential services, such as education to approximately 45,000 students, primary health care through 26 health centers and health points, and a range of services.
In the first six months of 2016, the UNRWA achieved some major goals, such as resuming badly-needed humanitarian aid to people from Yarmouk after an eight-month-long hiatus.
In March and April, it also vaccinated 25,186 children against polio. By the end of June, it had completed two full distribution rounds of cash and food to approximately 414,000 Palestine refugees.
"To mitigate the catastrophic impact of the conflict on Palestine refugees, UNRWA depends on the renewed commitment of its generous donors to help fill the gap and ensure it delivers on its mandate.
The agency’s ability to continue its crucial work is under threat as the 2016 Syria Regional Crisis Emergency Appeal remains critically underfunded. By the end of June, only 30 per cent of funding had been raised."
"If the agency is to deliver the commitment of the international community to Palestine refugees, particularly those in Syria, it must be given the support to do so," UNRWA stated in its appeal.
In a recent renewed appeal for funding, the UNRWA added that its need for funds for its humanitarian aid services has become more critical than ever.
According to the UN agency, the armed violence in Syria has caused mass displacement that reached over 60 percent of the Palestinian community and greatly affected UNRWA programs and assets.
It pointed out that the majority of the estimated 450,000 Palestinians refugees remaining in Syria are displaced and in dire need of relief services, stressing that 95 percent of them rely completely on its assistance.
The agency says it provides humanitarian support in the forms of cash, food and non-food items, and collective shelter assistance, and despite the conflict, it continues to offer essential services, such as education to approximately 45,000 students, primary health care through 26 health centers and health points, and a range of services.
In the first six months of 2016, the UNRWA achieved some major goals, such as resuming badly-needed humanitarian aid to people from Yarmouk after an eight-month-long hiatus.
In March and April, it also vaccinated 25,186 children against polio. By the end of June, it had completed two full distribution rounds of cash and food to approximately 414,000 Palestine refugees.
"To mitigate the catastrophic impact of the conflict on Palestine refugees, UNRWA depends on the renewed commitment of its generous donors to help fill the gap and ensure it delivers on its mandate.
The agency’s ability to continue its crucial work is under threat as the 2016 Syria Regional Crisis Emergency Appeal remains critically underfunded. By the end of June, only 30 per cent of funding had been raised."
"If the agency is to deliver the commitment of the international community to Palestine refugees, particularly those in Syria, it must be given the support to do so," UNRWA stated in its appeal.
14 july 2016
Over 145,000 Palestinian refugees have sought asylum in Turkey fleeing war-torn Syria, the Action Group for Palestinians in Syria reported Wednesday.
According to data by the Action Group, over 144,200 Palestinian refugees have fled Syria to Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, the Gaza Strip, and Europe.
Until July 13, 155,000 refugees moved to Jordan while 42,500 moved to Lebanon and 8,000 others to Turkey.
The group also sounded the alarm over the blockade imposed on the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus for 1,122 days running. The camp had also been prevented from power supplies for 1,183 days and water for 672 days.
The blockade took away the lives of 187 refugees. Residents of al-Sabinah refugee camp have also been prevented from returning to their homes for 975 days.
Water has been cut off at the Deraa refugee camp for 826 days while 70% of its civilian buildings have been reduced to rubble. According to data released by the UNRWA, there are 593,600 Palestinian refugees in Syria.
According to data by the Action Group, over 144,200 Palestinian refugees have fled Syria to Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, the Gaza Strip, and Europe.
Until July 13, 155,000 refugees moved to Jordan while 42,500 moved to Lebanon and 8,000 others to Turkey.
The group also sounded the alarm over the blockade imposed on the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus for 1,122 days running. The camp had also been prevented from power supplies for 1,183 days and water for 672 days.
The blockade took away the lives of 187 refugees. Residents of al-Sabinah refugee camp have also been prevented from returning to their homes for 975 days.
Water has been cut off at the Deraa refugee camp for 826 days while 70% of its civilian buildings have been reduced to rubble. According to data released by the UNRWA, there are 593,600 Palestinian refugees in Syria.
8 july 2016
Hundreds of Palestinian refugees fleeing war-torn Syria have been stranded in Greece after local authorities sealed off all passageways to neighboring countries, a rights group reported Friday.
According to the Action Group for Palestinians in Syria, hundreds of Palestinian refugees have been stuck near border-areas with Europe after they were forced to leave refugee camps due to the dire circumstances and poor hygiene.
The Action Group attributed the tragic situation to the oppressive policies pursued by the European Union as regards refugees on Greek borders.
The group further sounded the alarm over the tragic situation endured by Palestinian refugees in war-torn Syria, where the Khan al-Sheih refugee camp in the Damascene suburbs has been the permanent target of strikes by the Syrian regime army.
Dozens of civilians were killed and others were left wounded as a result. The situation has gone worse after the regime army blocked all access-roads into Damascus.
A blockade imposed by the Syrian army for 1,116 days took away the lives of at least 187 civilians. The camp has also seen a power cut since 1,177 days and a water blackout since 666 days.
The Syrian army has been preventing refugees at the al-Subeina camp from returning to their homes since 969 days running.
Meanwhile, 70% of civilian homes in the Deraa refugee camp have been reduced to rubble. A water blackout has been rocking the camp since 820 days.
According to the Action Group for Palestinians in Syria, hundreds of Palestinian refugees have been stuck near border-areas with Europe after they were forced to leave refugee camps due to the dire circumstances and poor hygiene.
The Action Group attributed the tragic situation to the oppressive policies pursued by the European Union as regards refugees on Greek borders.
The group further sounded the alarm over the tragic situation endured by Palestinian refugees in war-torn Syria, where the Khan al-Sheih refugee camp in the Damascene suburbs has been the permanent target of strikes by the Syrian regime army.
Dozens of civilians were killed and others were left wounded as a result. The situation has gone worse after the regime army blocked all access-roads into Damascus.
A blockade imposed by the Syrian army for 1,116 days took away the lives of at least 187 civilians. The camp has also seen a power cut since 1,177 days and a water blackout since 666 days.
The Syrian army has been preventing refugees at the al-Subeina camp from returning to their homes since 969 days running.
Meanwhile, 70% of civilian homes in the Deraa refugee camp have been reduced to rubble. A water blackout has been rocking the camp since 820 days.
6 july 2016
UNRWA announced that 6,303 Gazan refugee families have not received payments to start repairing their totally destroyed homes.
Total estimated costs for reconstruction are 283.6 million dollars. In a report, UNRWA revealed that payments to 23 refugee families have been made to restore their totally destroyed homes in Gaza Strip.
Payments should also be continued to another 1000 refugee families.
The report disclosed that over 1.88 million American dollars was paid last week for reconstruction, repair works and cash aid for rentals.
Funding will reach a total of 882 refugee families in the besieged enclave. Approximately 8,000 refugee families still displaced by the 2014 conflict have not received transitional shelter cash assistance (TSCA) for the second quarter in in 2016, the report pointed out.
The report stated that for repairs of damages of all categories (minor, major and severe), the principal barrier to completing the outstanding repairs is funding.
If current conditions remain, including adequate amounts of building material entering Gaza, UNRWA estimates that repairs could be completed within six months from receipt of sufficient funding.
Total estimated costs for reconstruction are 283.6 million dollars. In a report, UNRWA revealed that payments to 23 refugee families have been made to restore their totally destroyed homes in Gaza Strip.
Payments should also be continued to another 1000 refugee families.
The report disclosed that over 1.88 million American dollars was paid last week for reconstruction, repair works and cash aid for rentals.
Funding will reach a total of 882 refugee families in the besieged enclave. Approximately 8,000 refugee families still displaced by the 2014 conflict have not received transitional shelter cash assistance (TSCA) for the second quarter in in 2016, the report pointed out.
The report stated that for repairs of damages of all categories (minor, major and severe), the principal barrier to completing the outstanding repairs is funding.
If current conditions remain, including adequate amounts of building material entering Gaza, UNRWA estimates that repairs could be completed within six months from receipt of sufficient funding.