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Russia: Situation in Al-Hawl, Al-Rukban Syria refugee camps ‘catastrophic’

April 23, 2019 at 9:23 am

Refugees line up for water at al-Hawl refugee camp in Syria on 29 January 2017 [DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP/Getty Images]

A “catastrophic situation” has erupted in Al-Hawl and Al-Rukban camps for Syrian refugees, Russia warned yesterday.

“Despite the general positive dynamics in some directions, the situation is still catastrophic,” Foreign Ministry official, Igor Starkov, said during a meeting of Russian and Syrian coordination officials on returning refugees.

The Russian official explained that Al-Hawl refugee camp in Hasakah province is overcrowded where the total number of Syrian refugees residing in its territory has reached 73,000 people.

He pointed out that in Al-Rukban camp refugees are living in terrible conditions, calling for an end to the situation to prevent people from leaving the camp.

The Russian diplomat expressed his belief that the United States, which oversees the two camps, “shows inability to adequately respond to the tragic situation of the Syrian citizens”, adding that the international community’s silence is both puzzling and regretful, especially in light of statements made by international donors after the Brussels III conference during which they pledged a record $7 billion to support Syrians.

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