The UN relief agency UNRWA has initiated an on-line campaign to get aid to Yarmouk, the neighborhood in Damascus where many Palestinian refugees live. “We demand access to #Yarmouk & all vulnerable civilians in #Syria. How much longer will they be left to suffer?” Here is UNRWA’s press release. –Ed.
UN-led Campaign Supported by Millions Globally Tells the Parties to the Syria Conflict “End Restrictions on Civilians Now”
Press Release by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
Jerusalem, 24 January 2014: An unprecedented three-day social media campaign generating more than 31.6 million “impressions” and reaching tens of millions around the world, has demanded that the parties to the Syria conflict allow aid to flow to Yarmouk, the besieged Damascus neighbourhood and a key area hosting Palestine refugees in Syria. The campaign, which was backed by celebrities like Mia Farrow, Hugh Grant and Arab Idol Mohamad Assaf, brought together UN agencies such as UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, OCHA and UNRWA as well as NGOs; among them Human Rights Watch, Save the Children, the International Rescue Committee and grassroots organisations with deep reach into their communities.
“Millions of people heard our plea, that we have seen enough reports of starving children, infants with rickets and women dying in childbirth for lack of medical care. We urge the parties to listen to the voice of the international humanitarian community,” said UNRWA Spokesperson, Chris Gunness. “A small amount of food aid has been allowed into Yarmouk in the last few days, but this is a drop in the ocean. We demand that Yarmouk and other civilian areas throughout Syria are open to safe, regular and substantial humanitarian access; that the civilian residents of Yarmouk like all civilians be granted free and safe movement; and that all sides to the Syria conflict comply with their international obligations to protect Syrian and Palestinian civilians in Yarmouk and beyond.”
Over a thousand people and organizations signed up for a ‘Thunderclap’ which simultaneously sent out a tweet to over 11.5 million Twitter accounts generating further social media “impressions”. The campaign was led by UNRWA, that for decades has been the agency responsible for education, health, relief and social services in Yarmouk, which was home to some 160,000 Palestinian refugees. After nearly three years of fighting, the Palestinian population of Yarmouk has been reduced to about 18,000 people, including women and children, to whom UNRWA, along with UN and other agencies, is striving to bring emergency aid.
Further details of the campaign, one of the most successful in history of Thunderclap, can be found [here].
No flotilla for the Palestinians in Syria, as if Israel is not involved and can be blamed, no one gives a S**t about the Palestinians, proves again that there is no Pro-Palestinians, there is only Anti Israeli Jewish state.
No one in MW will do anything, as they support butcher Assad, the man defends his country and if the Palestinians a starved to death, its OK in Mondowiess.
That Thunderclap campaign with 1000 volunteers generating tweets to 11.5 million others sounds like a circus act. They should have it registered at the Guinness Records. I wish they would have sent out an S.O.S to the sponsors of those 200 foreign fighters holding hostage the 18,000 famished refugees to have them walk away from the camp to let the food supplies in. But I guess this situation is exactly what the sponsors want.
W.Jones
Read The Electronic Intifada http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/syrian-army-slows-yarmouk-food-aid-trickle
Gaza, ALRAY (Palestinian Media Agency) 10:04 – 26 January 2014
Three more Palestinian refugees in Yarmouk camp died of starvation on Saturday due to the ongoing imposed siege on the camp by Syrian regime forces for the 196 days in a raw.
Action Group for Palestinians of Syria reported that Haniyeh Abu al-Ruz , Moses Mari and Omar Abu Siam died of illnesses exacerbated by hunger , noting that the number of people died of hunger in Yarmouk camp is up to 66.
It also reported that Syrian aircrafts pummeled Dera’a camp causing several injuries .
It explained that those who are still in the camp are suffering from a severe shortage of food, medicine and heating materials.
http://alray.ps/en/index.php?act=post&id=3030
Shhhhhh ……. Don’t tell Taxi
Gaza, Gaza, ALRAY (Palestinian Media Agency) – 57 Palestinian refugees ,in Yarmouk refugee camp, died of starvation, hunger-related illnesses and lack of medical aids due to the siege imposed on the camp by “Syrian regime army and other forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad regime for 191 consecutive days”, right group reported.
Action Group for Palestinians in Syria said that the 57 died in the period between 11/2013 to 19th , Jan, 2014.