Source: UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Country: occupied Palestinian territory, Syrian Arab Republic
UNRWA conducted humanitarian operations in Yalda today, providing vital healthcare to civilians displaced from Yarmouk and host communities
SITUATION REPORT – 21 SEPTEMBER 2015
- UNRWA medical personnel established a health point in Yalda, treating 318 patients over the course of the day. This included 1 suspected case of typhoid, a significant decline from previous weeks, which saw up to 20 cases per day.
- UNRWA also provided 200,000 water purification tablets to the community, generously contributed by UNICEF.
- As high summer temperatures and regular interruptions in water and food supplies continue to affect Yarmouk, Yalda, Babila and Beit Saham, communicable illness remains a source of profound vulnerability for civilians.
- Health services in these areas are extremely limited and lack the capacity to respond to major outbreaks and other serious health needs. For this reason, it is vital that UNRWA medical assistance continues on an indefinite basis and is expanded to include other humanitarian support, particularly food.
- UNRWA’s priority remains the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians within Yarmouk itself and reiterates its strong demand for respect and compliance with obligations to protect civilians and to establish secure conditions under which UNRWA can deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance.
- The vulnerability of civilians in Yarmouk remains of the highest severity. UNRWA is deeply concerned that without access, the most basic humanitarian needs of Palestinian and Syrian civilians, including many children, continue to be left unmet. Today’s mission was conducted with the facilitation of the Syrian authorities.
CALL FOR SUPPORT
- As armed violence continues to threaten the lives and safety of Palestine refugees throughout Syria, UNRWA appeals for donors to increase their support to the UNRWA Syria Crisis Appeal, which has received only 34% of the funds needed for 2015.
- More than 95% of Palestine refugees now rely on UNRWA to meet their daily needs of food, water and healthcare.
- Priority interventions include cash assistance, which enables UNRWA to serve 460,000 Palestine refugees in need. Additional funding is also required for critical non-food items including blankets, mattresses and hygiene kits for displaced Palestine refugee families throughout Syria.