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Syrian civil war crisis: Yarmouk refugee camp evacuation 'halted' | Syrian civil war crisis: Yarmouk refugee camp evacuation 'halted' |
(2 days later) | |
The planned evacuation of thousands of Syrian refugees from a camp has halted, according to reports. | The planned evacuation of thousands of Syrian refugees from a camp has halted, according to reports. |
Yarmouk camp should have been evacuated on Saturday under an agreement between rebels and Assad forces currently fighting for control of southern Damascus. | Yarmouk camp should have been evacuated on Saturday under an agreement between rebels and Assad forces currently fighting for control of southern Damascus. |
Instead, safety issues and the death of a top rebel have been blamed for the delay. | Instead, safety issues and the death of a top rebel have been blamed for the delay. |
Almost 20,000 civilians have been trapped inside the camp since the two opposing forces began fighting, shelling and attacking one another in the streets. Most recently, Isis – also referred to as either Daesh or the Islamic State – took controls of parts of the camp. | Almost 20,000 civilians have been trapped inside the camp since the two opposing forces began fighting, shelling and attacking one another in the streets. Most recently, Isis – also referred to as either Daesh or the Islamic State – took controls of parts of the camp. |
Humanitarian assistance has been unable to reach the camp, where an estimated 18,000 civilians live in worsening conditions, but should the fighters withdraw the UN hopes to get aid through. | Humanitarian assistance has been unable to reach the camp, where an estimated 18,000 civilians live in worsening conditions, but should the fighters withdraw the UN hopes to get aid through. |
Parts of the camp, which gained international notoriety last year after a photograph depicted thousands waiting for food in the shelled city, have subsequently been taken by al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra, as well as pro- and anti-government Palestinian groups. | Parts of the camp, which gained international notoriety last year after a photograph depicted thousands waiting for food in the shelled city, have subsequently been taken by al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra, as well as pro- and anti-government Palestinian groups. |
The Assad government and rebels had come to a fragile agreement that fighters from Yarmouk, as well as districts Hajar al-Aswad and al-Qadam, would withdraw along with their families in 18 buses which arrived in the camp on Friday. | The Assad government and rebels had come to a fragile agreement that fighters from Yarmouk, as well as districts Hajar al-Aswad and al-Qadam, would withdraw along with their families in 18 buses which arrived in the camp on Friday. |
But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the withdrawal had been paused for “logistical” reasons – principally, that the road to Isis-controlled Raqqa had not been secured. | But the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said the withdrawal had been paused for “logistical” reasons – principally, that the road to Isis-controlled Raqqa had not been secured. |
Lebanese Hezbollah al-Manar TV also claimed the evacuation was delayed after the death of rebel group Jaysh al-Islam’s leader this week, the BBC reported. | Lebanese Hezbollah al-Manar TV also claimed the evacuation was delayed after the death of rebel group Jaysh al-Islam’s leader this week, the BBC reported. |
The Syrian conflict has now entered its fourth year with an estimated 250,000 people killed in the bitter civil war so far. | The Syrian conflict has now entered its fourth year with an estimated 250,000 people killed in the bitter civil war so far. |
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