The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said a number of armed groups in the Yarmuk camp in south Damascus "were able to regain control over all of the areas that IS had taken over."
The militants had overrun the camp on Wednesday, raising fears for thousands of civilians inside and giving IS a potential beachhead inside Syria's capital.
But armed Palestinian groups, backed by local rebels, launched a fightback later in the day.
"Syrian rebel groups entered the camp and helped the Palestinians push back IS in fierce clashes," said Rami Abdel Rahman, the head of the Observatory.
Anwar Abdel Hadi, director of political affairs for the Palestine Liberation Organisation in Damascus, said IS had been pushed "to the periphery" of the camp.
He said Aknaf Beit al-Maqdis, a group loyal to Palestinian movement Hamas, had clashed with IS overnight.
Six people were killed and 17 injured, he said, but he could not provide details on the toll.
The Britain-based Observatory said IS still controlled "some areas" in the camp and put the death toll at three.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said it was "extremely concerned" about the safety of civilians in Yarmuk.
"UNRWA estimates that there are some 3,500 children among the 18,000 civilians living in Yarmuk. The intense armed clashes put these children at risk of serious injury and death," UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said.
Yarmuk, located only about six kilometres (four miles) from downtown Damascus, was once a thriving home to 160,000 Palestinian refugees and Syrians.
But it has been devastated by fighting and a tight blockade imposed by the army nearly two years ago that created dire humanitarian conditions.
AFP
ahram.org.eg
2/4/15
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Explosion Hits Yarmuk Refugee Camp Near Damascus...
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, fighting can be heard in all parts of the camp.
Islamic State militants have reportedly stormed the camp. According to the UN relief and works agency (UNRWA), a variety of armed groups are currently engaged in fierce fighting in Yarmuk.
The Yarmuk refugee camp is the place of residence for 18,000 people, including some 3,500 children, according to the UNRWA.
The agency said on Thursday that those in the camp are at extreme risk of death, grave injury and displacement.
http://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20150402/1020379699.html#ixzz3WACmreXk
2/4/15
ISIS takes 90 percent of Syria refugee camp...
ReplyDeleteThe Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has taken control of 90 percent of a Palestinian refugee camp on the Damascus outskirts where 18,000 civilians have suffered years of bombing, army siege and militia control, a monitoring group said on Saturday.
The hardline group’s offensive in Yarmouk gives it a major presence in the capital. ISIS, the most powerful insurgent group in Syria, is now only a few kilometres from President Bashar al-Assad’s seat of power.
The United Nations has said it is extremely concerned about the safety and protection of Syrians and Palestinians in the camp. Civilians trapped there have long suffered a government siege that has led to starvation and disease.
"The situation in Yarmouk is an affront to the humanity of all of us, a source of universal shame," U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) spokesman Chris Gunness said.............http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/04/04/ISIS-takes-90-percent-of-Damascus-refugee-camp-monitor.html
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