Al-Rukban: A Forgotten Camp | Worsening humanitarian crisis for 11,000 displaced people besieged by Syrian regime and Russia, while international community turns a blind eye
Al-Rukban camp, located near Iraq-Syria-Jordan border, is witnessing a tragic and appalling humanitarian situation. The camp is housing more than 11,000 displaced people and are suffering from severe crises under the crippling siege imposed by regime forces and the Russians. Despite continued appeals and highlighting the disastrous situation of civilians in the camp by SOHR, the suffering continues.
Syrian Observatory sources in the camp have reported that the situation is worsening, especially the medical conditions. The camp is experiencing a severe shortage of medicines and medical equipment and the absence of doctors and medical staff, as there are no any nearby medical centres or posts other than Al-Awn medical post, which was closed by the Jordanian authorities due to coronavirus.
Patients from the camp are forced to enter Syrian regime-held areas through the Red Crescent for surgery work even if it is simple. Therefore, the inhabitants of Al-Rukban have only two options, either to die of disease or to reach regime-held areas. The Syrian Red Crescent transports the patient to the hospital, where he must be subjected to a reconciliation deal that is never guaranteed, as many have been arrested or contact was lost with them.
The high prices of basic commodities in the camp are worsening the situation, as the camp has recently witnessed a disruption of flour and an astronomical rise in the prices of basic commodities, which are being entered by smugglers to the camp, especially since the displaced people have no income and rely on money sent to them by relatives outside the camp. In addition to other catastrophic conditions of medical, sanitation and others, while international community turns a blind eye to the suffering of 11,000 Syrians in the desert.
Therefore, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights renews its call for the international community to act immediately and help those 11,000 displaced people living in catastrophic humanitarian conditions, by opening humanitarian corridors and exert more pressure on the Syrian regime and the Russians to break up their siege of the camp and to deliver humanitarian aid, food and medicine.