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UN chief calls for action to save lives in besieged Yarmouk camp in Syria

Xinhua, April 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Thursday called for "concerted action to save lives, restore measure of humanity" in besieged Yarmouk refugee camp, where 18,000 Palestinian refugees and Syrians, being held hostage by extremist militants, are facing what he described as an "epic humanitarian catastrophe."

"In the horror that is Syria, the Yarmouk refugee camp is the deepest circle of hell," the secretary-general said to the press here. "A refugee camp is beginning to resemble a death camp. The residents of Yarmouk -- including 3,500 children -- are being turned into human shields."

The Islamic State (IS) group, also known as ISIL, and al-Qaida- linked Nusra Front have taken control of more than 90 percent of the Palestinian refugee camp, reports said Saturday.

The capture of Yarmouk Camp, five kilometers south of the Syrian capital Damascus, by the Nusra and the IS groups came after four days of intense battles with the rival jihadist group, Aknaf Beit al-Maqdes, which has been in control of the camp since 2013.

The Aknaf group has retreated to the northeastern part of Yarmouk, reports said, adding that the IS beheaded two people in Yarmouk, spelling no details on the reasons behind the gruesome killing. Other activists said seven Palestinians were killed by the IS during the four-day-long battles.

Meanwhile, Syria's official news agency SANA said the Syrian government forces have for long besieged the camp since the Aknaf militants took control over two years ago, adding that the clashes are ongoing inside Yarmouk between the extremist groups.

After more than two years of a merciless siege, residents now faced a "double-edged sword", with members of ISIL and other extremist groups inside the camp and government forces outside, Ban said.

"We are now hearing worrying reports of a massive assault on the camp and all civilians in it," he said.

The latest chapter in a war which had long ago exceeded words to describe the mayhem. "This would be yet one more outrageous war crime for which those responsible must be held accountable," he said.

The priority is to stabilize the situation in the camp, said Ban, adding that he joined the UN Security Council in demanding an end to hostilities, access for humanitarian assistance and safe passage for civilians who wish to escape safely.

In that regard, he called on all member states with influence on the Syrian government and all parties on the ground to take all steps necessary to send a clear message.

"Civilians must be spared. Civilians must be protected at all times," Ban said, adding that he would continue to press that unequivocal message in meetings and phone calls with world leaders as the international community faced an "epic test" of its resolve as it tried to avoid an "epic humanitarian catastrophe."

Concerted action to save lives in Yarmouk and restore a measure of humanity was needed, he said, underlining that the world could not simply stand by, abandon Yarmouk's residents and watch a massacre unfold.

"Surely we can all agree that what is unfolding in Yarmouk is unacceptable," he said. "Surely, we can all act to end the suffering. Surely, we can all refuse to tolerate the intolerable." Endite