The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said it was extremely concerned for the lives and wellbeing of some 30,000 Palestine refugees registered with the Agency in south Syria.

Around one-third of them used to reside in the Dera’a camp for Palestine refugees before the conflict, which suffered large-scale destruction as a result of the hostilities. Recently, a small number of Palestine refugees have returned to the camp despite the limited availability of services offered to them, primarily because of a lack of alternatives. More than 600 Palestine refugee families (3,000 individuals) reside in the camp area as of 2021.

The recent clashes in and around Dera’a have caused the displacement of more than half the families who live inside the camp. The humanitarian conditions of families that remain inside the camp are dire with reports that most of the medications and food stocks, including bread are now depleted since the main humanitarian crossing Saraya was closed on 12 August to vehicles and pedestrians. Water and electricity are also reportedly completely cut off inside the camp.

Increased clashes in western Dera’a are also affecting Palestine refugees who live there and limit their access to UNRWA services, especially with the closure of the UNRWA health clinic in Muzeirib since 1 August.

Humanitarian needs are immense, said UNRWA in a statement, including the demand for emergency food and non-food items, and people living near the clashes face increased risks related to contamination by explosive remnants of war. Displaced families have often moved in with relatives, this adding to their burden and increasing the risks associated with the spread of COVID-19.  Most families are struggling to pay rent or reside in homes that have been damaged or partially destroyed by hostilities over the last decade.

The clashes have severely impacted the ability of Palestine refugees to move out of Dera’a camp and have limited their access to UNRWA services usually available in Dera’a city, including UNRWA cash and food assistance, health services, relief, and social services and protection. Several other UNRWA donor-funded projects in the camp, designed to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable, are also affected, said UNRWA.

The current situation has delayed the work needed to prepare for the return of children to UNRWA schools, whose opening also risks being delayed. It also raises increased safety concerns for the safety of UNRWA staff working in the Dera’a Governorate.

In a decade-long conflict, most Palestine refugees have been displaced multiple times. The latest hostilities and shelling in and around Dera’a have dramatically reduced the ability of UNRWA to continue providing critical services to a very vulnerable community, it said, urging parties to the conflict to ensure unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance into the area, including access to UNRWA services.

The Saraya crossing point, which allows the passage of people and goods, and that has been closed since 30 July must remain open to allow Palestine refugees’ access to basic services, demanded UNRWA. All parties must protect civilians and safeguard civilian infrastructure, including UNRWA installations in Dera’a Governorate.