DAMASCUS, 3 November 2018 - The United Nations and Syrian Arabic Red Crescent (SARC) are delivering humanitarian assistance to 50,000 people in need at Rukban camp in south-east Syria near the Jordanian border. The inter-agency aid operation, which has started today, is expected to take three to four days.

"We are delivering food, sanitation and hygiene supplies, nutrition and health assistance in addition to other core relief items in cooperation with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. We are also conducting an emergency vaccination campaign to protect some 10,000 children against Measles, Polio and other deadly diseases,” said Ali Al-Za'tari, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Syrian Arab Republic.

The overall humanitarian situation in Rukban camp remains at a critical stage, with reported shortages of basic commodities, protection concerns, increasing violence, and the death of several children who reportedly were unable to get the further medical treatment they needed.

“This is SARC’s first convoy to Rukban camp after guarantees from all parties have been obtained. Delivery of food and non-food assistance is a huge positive step for the people there, and SARC will spare no efforts to fulfil its humanitarian mandate to help the affected Syrians and meet their huge needs.” said Eng.Khaled Hboubati, President of the Syrian Arab Red Cressent.

The last UN delivery of assistance to Rukban Camp was in January 2018, delivered through Jordan. The United Nations urges all parties to allow safe, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian access to all in need in line with their obligations under International Humanitarian Law.

"While this much-needed delivery is an important achievement, a longer-term solution must be found for the many civilians living in Rukban. We must do everything we can to continue helping civilians living in the harshest conditions in there," said Ali Al-Za'tari, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the Syrian Arab Republic.

￼For further information, please contact:

￼Fadwa AbedRabou Baroud, Communication Specialist, office of the RC/HC, fadwa.baroud@one.un.org, +963 996 134 666. Dr. Khaled Al Masri, Media Analyst, office of the RC/HC, Damascus, khalid.al-masri@one.un.org, Tel: +963 991. 555.