UN, partners aiding 64,000 displaced in Syria's al-Hol camp

Source: Xinhua| 2020-10-17 03:59:44|Editor: huaxia

UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations and humanitarian partners are assisting 64,000 displaced people in the al-Hol camp in Syria, who are living in difficult and challenging conditions amid increasing violence, a UN spokesman said on Friday.

"Our humanitarian colleagues are telling us that they are very concerned about the plight of more than 64,000 people living in challenging humanitarian conditions in the al-Hol camp in the northeast, particularly women and children who make up about 94 percent of the camp's population," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Dujarric said 94 percent of the displaced are women and children with around 34,000 of the children under 12 and more than 120 of them unaccompanied or separated from their families, living in an interim care center in the camp.

"Conditions in al-Hol are difficult by any measure," he said. "In the past month, humanitarians have expressed alarm at the deteriorating security situation in the camp following a rise in violent incidents."

"We, along with our humanitarian partners, are providing comprehensive assistance to the camp," he said. "The United Nations stresses that this cannot be a substitute for durable solutions for all the residents."

In the past two months, more than 1,000 people are reported to have left the camp and there are reports that local authorities plan to expedite and increase departures of Syrian families in the coming months.

The spokesman pointed out that any departures of the displaced from camps must be voluntary, safe, fully informed, dignified and in the best interests of the children.

So far, four cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, he said. Testing is relatively limited, and a wider outbreak remains a significant risk. Enditem

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