(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday condemned the shelling and aerial bombardment of the Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, despite assurances from the Syrian Government that the camp would not be attacked while civilians remained inside.
In a statement, Ban called on the Syrian Government to immediately end any military operation that could endanger the lives of civilians in Yarmouk camp, and abide strictly by its obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians during armed conflict.
Nevertheless, Ban appealed to all parties to stop the violence so as to grant secure and sustained humanitarian access to civilians inside the camp. Thousands of civilians in the camp are besieged by terrorist and other armed groups on the inside and Government forces on the outside.
He then urged the UN Security Council and Member States with influence on the parties on the ground, including the Syrian Government, to do all in their power to protect civilian lives. The Government's adherence to commitments it has already made is critical to its role as an interlocutor for the international community, the statement concluded.
The UNSC called in an earlier occasion for unhindered humanitarian access to the Camp and for the protection of civilians living in it.
UNSC President Dina Kawar of Jordan, told the press last week that the members of the Council are in deep concern regarding the grave humanitarian situation in Yarmouk Refugee Camp in Syria. (end) mao.sd
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