NEW YORK
No humanitarian operations have been possible in the Yarmouk refugee camp in the Syrian capital since April 1 despite demands for urgent humanitarian access, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees said Wednesday.
The camp, which had been besieged by the government troops since 2012, has been engulfed by intense fighting since the beginning of the month when Daesh militants reportedly entered the camp.
"The situation in the camp remains extremely tense with street fighting continuing and unconfirmed reports of aerial bombardments of civilian areas," the UNRWA said in a statement read by UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric in New York.
The camp houses about 18,000 Palestinian refugees, including nearly 3,500 children.
Palestinian armed factions and Syrian opposition group, Free Syrian Army, were reportedly leading the fight against Daesh.
"UNRWA is calling for a pause in the hostilities, humanitarian access to civilians who need assistance and the safe evacuation of civilians who want to leave Yarmouk," the agency said.
The UN Security Council on Monday demanded humanitarian access to the camp to provide life-saving assistance and ensure the safe passage and evacuation of civilians.
The conflict in Syria, which began in March 2011, has claimed more than 220,000 lives, according to the UN.
The unrest created by the civil war paved the way for extremist movements, such as Daesh, to gain a foothold in the region.
