A Syrian NGO, the Jafra Foundation, has issued an urgent appeal for intervention to end the siege of Qudsaya town, north-west of Damascus. With food and medical supplies running dangerously low the organisation warns that “Every passing hour draws Qudsaya’s population closer to humanitarian catastrophe.” Below is the full text of their press release.
Approximately 250,000 persons remained trapped inside Qudsaya town, located 27 kilometres northwest of Damascus city. Since July 18th, 2015, the Syrian government has closed the road to Damascus, preventing both persons and goods to pass checkpoints into or out of the area.
According to most recent statistics, 230,000 IDPs are living in the area struck by this most recent siege, with approximately 5-10% of the population representing the host community and 70% of the IDP population comprised of females. Around 30,000 Palestinian persons are trapped inside the area, including families from Yarmouk Camp, Khan Eshieh Camp, and other Palestinian camps and gatherings around Damascus.
At present, Jafra Foundation is extremely concerned for those trapped inside the area. Since July 25th, 2015, food has disappeared from the markets and bread is especially unavailable. Medical supplies have also disappeared from the market. Electrical outages exceed 20 hours daily, directly affecting water pumping into the main water system. This has forced most to rely on water trucking services, which are extremely expensive, costing upwards of $15 USD or 3,500 SYP weekly. These prices are far too costly for a large IDP community without income generating prospects.
Most families in the area are reliant of humanitarian relief to provide for their sustenance. At present, no convoy has been allowed to enter the area for 44 days; those allowed to leave (limited to governmental employees and students) are only permitted to bring in small quantities of food through governmental checkpoints. Many families have been split by the recent siege, as prior to July 18th, 2015, people had been allowed out of the area but have not been able to re-enter Qudsaya town. The last food distribution in the area took place in late March/early April of 2015, provided by Jafra Foundation, targeting those most vulnerable 850 families (including a small percentage of host community families).
Jafra Foundation urges all concerned authorities, parties, NGOs, legal associations, civic organizations, and international actors to intervene immediately to end the siege of Qudsaya and allow safe passage for humanitarian actors into the area to serve the suffering population. Every passing hour draws Qudsaya’s population closer to humanitarian catastrophe. Please contact the Jafra Foundation to support in provision of these most urgent basic needs for those most vulnerable, besieged persons trapped inside Qudsaya town.