- Yarmouk Camp, Damascus This past
week, on May 6th, Syria commemorated its national holiday known as Martyr’s Day.
This year being the 99th anniversary of the execution of 21 Syrian nationalists,
betrayed by retreating Beirut based French officials who were supposedly their
allies.The slaughter took place at Marjeh Square in downtown Damascus for
alleged anti-Turkish activities. It was ordered by one Jamal Pasha, also known
as “Al Jazzar” (‘The Butcher’) who at the time was the Ottoman, Turkey,“Vilayet”
of ‘Greater Syria’. The latter term having been coined to designate the
approximate area included in present-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and still
Zionist-occupied Palestine, which was a key part of the 1301-1918 Ottoman
Empire.
President Bashar Assad, despite rebel social media claims this week that he
had been assassinated, appeared well and relaxed at a nearby school amidst
throngs of chanting and obviously surprised supporters. In his first remarks
since rebels seized Jisr al-Shughour, and the city of Idlib as well as and the
Qarmid military base last week, Syria’s President argued to the crowd that “wars
involved thousands of battles with ebb and flows, gains and losses, and ups and
downs. Everything fluctuates except one thing, which is faith in the soldier and
his belief in ultimate victory. So when setbacks occur, it is our duty as a
society to boost the morale of the soldier and not wait for him to raise ours.”
He added that “Psychological defeat is the final defeat and we are not worried.”
Martyrs’ Day in occupied Palestine, named after Ahmad Musa, who, according to
PLO leader Yasser Arafat, was the first martyr to fall in the “Palestinian
Revolution” in 1965, is also commemorated in Syria’s 13 Palestinian camps, some
now partially destroyed. This year, given all the displacements of Yarmouk
residents and continuing carnage and siege of the estimated 8-15,000 still
trapped, an additional joint Syrian-Palestinian Martyr’s manifestation is
scheduled for 5/8/2015 at 1 p.m. on the north side of Yarmouk camp. An American
delegation, which on 5/7/15 was briefed at length on the current humanitarian
and military situation by Syrian army and Palestinian commanders just inside the
camp, will attend.
The “Return to Yarmouk” event is being organized by former Yarmouk residents
from a beat-up shredded UNHCR tent across the street from the North-side
entrance to Yarmouk. The Martyr’s Day event will have the theme “Return to
Yarmouk” and will launched a campaign to pressure all the parties to finally
achieve, after half a dozen failed attempts over the past nearly two years,
enough Musalaha (‘reconciliation’) to acheive a credible ceasefire, allow in
humanitarian aid, security and the return of those who since December of 2012
fled for their lives. Thousands of former Yarmouk residents currently exist
wherever they can find shelter on the edge of Yarmouk while waiting for a chance
to return to what is left of their neighborhood and homes.
There are many conflicting reports these days about current conditions deep
inside Yarmouk. Based on briefings this week as well as crossed-checked data,
the following tentative ‘snapshot’ comes into focus.
Parts of 4-5 thousand Yarmouk families are still inside for a total estimated
current population of between 8 to 15,000 persons, mainly Palestinian but also
some Syrian. Most are trapped or being used a human shields. But there are a few
who have decided to remain with family members who are fighters in various
militia. UNWRA uses the figure 18,000 including 3.500 children still trapped
inside and in dire need of humanitarian aid. As of March 2011, according to
UNWRA, Palestinians living in Syria numbered some 581,000 – one third of whom
had been living in the Yarmouk camp.
As confirmed by other eye-witnesses, including Nour Samaha, the northern
section of Yarmouk camp is now under the control of the PFLP-GC, while the
Syrian army and the National Defense Force, a government-funded militia,
surround the western and northern outskirts. Practically all the rest of the
camp is under the control of al-Nusra Front, the Islamic State, and other
opposition groups.
Da’ish (ISIS) and Jabhat al Nusra have now joined ranks for mutual benefits
as we are seeing in some other parts of Syria. Contrary to some media reports
ISIS has not abandoned or retreated from Yarmouk but on the contrary they are
actively recruiting, offering approximately $ 400 monthly salaries, free
cigarettes (despite their claimed Koranic based rejection of the disgusting
habit) and a Kalashnikov or similar weapon.
Contrary to some media reports, the formerly pro-Hamas Palestinian militia
Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis, which has been solely active in Yarmouk camp has not
disbanded. Rather, Aknaf has split its ranks. Approximately 150 of its fighters
have joined the Da’ish-Nusra collaboration inside the camp with roughly the same
number joining pro-government forces such as the Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine-General Command (PFLP-GC), which continues, despite some
rumors, to be headed by pro-Syrian, Ahmed Jibril.
The current known allies of Aknaf Bait al-Maqdis include Jaysh al-Islam,
Jaysh al-Ababil, Liwa Sham al-Rasul, and Da’ish (ISIS). Its enemies include the
Syrian army, Hezbollah, National Defense Force, and the PFLP_GC and al-Nurse
Front. But some alliances are shifting. This according to the political and
military commander of the PFLP-GC and army sources who requested they not be
named.
Rebels currently control between 50-75 percent of the camp according to army
and PFLP-GC briefings conducted on 5/7/15. Officers explained to this observer
and his colleagues that a laboriously crafted cease-fire was in place and set to
be implemented by the end of March 2015, when suddenly Daesh and Nusra launched
their attack on the camp, scuttling the efforts of many including most
Palestinian factions.
Increasingly the battles inside Yarmouk are being wages from tunnels. Since 1
April, when Da’ish invaded Yamouk, and the government retaliated, at least 18
civilians are reported to have been killed from barrel bombs or from having been
caught in cross-fire or shot by snipers. Camp resident report that their
greatest fears these days are ISIS snipers and night-time dropped barrel bombs.
As fighting has yet again intensified, the trickle of desperately needed
humanitarian aid instantly dried up and residents continue to starve. In
mid-2013, approximately 170 Palestinian refugees starved to death when a siege
began and has now lasted for nearly 700 days.
All the relief organizations in Yarmouk have now closed down their centers and
left the camp. Essentially no medical services remain and six Palestine Hospital
staff were recently injured and most of the rest have fled out of fear of Da’ish
arriving via tunnels which some claim they can hear being dug. Others claim that
since 1 April, at least 18 civilians are reported to have been killed as a
result of barrel bombs or from having been caught in cross-fire or shot by
snipers, and at least three Palestinian fighters captured by IS forces were
beheaded. If they can, Yarmouk residents are fleeing mainly due to fear of
increasing numbers of snipers and nighttime barrel bombing.
UNRWA cannot do much given the enormity of the crisis and has repeatedly
expressed, so far in vain, strong concern for the security of civilians and has
demanded access to those civilians who remain inside Yarmouk. But their
courageous staffs and Syrian volunteers have been doing what they can these past
several days.
The UN Country Team, representing all UN humanitarian agencies in Syria, was
about to arrange this week a 22-truck convoy of critical humanitarian items to
Yalda, Babila and Beit Saham in partnership with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC)
and with representatives from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA), the World Food Program (WFP), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the
UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN
Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) as well as UNWRA. But failed to
achieve their goals. Chris Gunness, a UNRWA spokesman, told the Associated Press
that the agency has not been able to send any food or convoys into the camp
since the recent fighting started. “That means that there is no food, there is
no water and there is very little medicine,” he said. “The situation in the camp
is beyond inhumane. People are holed up in their houses, there is fighting going
on in the streets. There are reports of bombardments. This has to stop and
civilians must be evacuated.”
UNRWA medical personnel did establish a mobile health point in Yalda,
treating 325 patients over the course of the day. The team initiated a vaccine
campaign, serving 28 children. The UNRWA team also provided food supplies to two
community kitchens, sufficient to feed 900 individuals for one week. 1,200
packets of bread were delivered to civilians in Yalda, Babila and Beit Saham.
UNRWA missions deliver a broad range of critical humanitarian materials to each
of these families, including food, medical supplies, water purification
treatments, mattresses, blankets, family kitchen sets and hygiene kits.
UNRWA continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the civilians outside
of Yarmouk who remain displaced in Tadamoun, an area on the north-eastern
periphery. The Agency is also providing some daily hot lunches for civilians,
complemented by regular distribution of canned food.
A Syrian army commander, headquartered on the edge of Yarmouk advised this
observer on 6/7/2015 that the Syrian government and UNWRA will relocate hundreds
of recently escaped camp residents of secured housing in the coming week.
The Return to Yarmouk campaign announced this week shows potential to become
a movement with wide support from the government, civil society and even some
militia remnants. It is being led by Yarmouk refugees, some returning from
Lebanon.
All people of good will can only hope that this Syrian and Palestinian
Martyr’s Day effort succeeds and that despite the odds, Return to Yarmouk, will
happen soon.