Amnesty International Urges US to Provide Aid to Rukban Camp Residents
Amnesty International has issued a stark warning regarding the humanitarian crisis faced by approximately 8,000 displaced Syrians trapped in the Rukban camp, which has been under a severe siege for five years. The organization has called on the United States to take immediate action to deliver essential humanitarian aid, emphasizing that the camp falls within the effective control of the US along the Syrian border with Jordan and Iraq. The dire conditions in the camp have worsened recently, exacerbated by the Syrian government's tightening of the siege and the establishment of checkpoints that have cut off vital smuggling routes for essential supplies.
Deteriorating Conditions and Lack of Basic Supplies
The situation in Rukban camp is becoming increasingly desperate, with residents lacking access to food, clean water, and healthcare services. Amnesty International noted that the last UN humanitarian convoy allowed into the camp was five years ago, in September 2019. Aya Majzoub, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty, condemned the ongoing plight of the camp's residents, describing their living conditions as “unconscionable.” She highlighted that many residents, including children, are suffering due to the lack of life-saving essentials amid a brutal siege imposed by the Syrian government.
US Responsibility and International Human Rights Law
Given the presence of a US military base near the Rukban camp, Amnesty International argues that the United States bears a responsibility under international human rights law to ensure that residents have access to essential supplies. The organization's call for action comes as the number of residents has drastically decreased from around 80,000 in 2016 to just 8,000 today, following Jordan's closure of its borders. Amnesty International urges immediate intervention to alleviate the suffering of those trapped in this humanitarian crisis.
