UNRWA boss heads to Syria’s Yarmouk camp on ‘urgent mission’

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees is to begin what has been desribed as an “urgent mission” to Syria amid the crisis in the Palestinian camp of Yarmouk, not far from Damascus.

Pierre Krahenbuhl, who is chief of UNRWA will discuss the current situation of Yarmouk camp and will meet with displaced refugees.

The camp on the outskirts of the Syrian capital was stormed by Daesh jihadists at the start of April. It is Syria’s largest refugee camp.

UNRWA said in a statement that the visit is “prompted by UNRWA’s deepening concerns for the safety and protection of some 18,000 Palestinian and Syrian civilians, including 3,500 children” that are still camp.

“Yarmouk remains under the control of armed groups, and civilian lives continue to be threatened by the effects of the armed conflict in the area,” it said.