Amnesty International appeals to Jordan for medical care to Rukban camp’s refugees
Amnesty International has appealed to the Jordanian Government to provide medical care to the refugees camping at the Rukban camp in the event of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Director of Middle East Research at the Amnesty International, Lynn Maalouf, urged the authorities to, “Allow those seeking medical treatment to access facilities in Jordan, and also allow humanitarian aid and essential services to reach the area.”
He cautioned that the lack of medical care in the Rukban region between Syria and Jordan predisposes thousands of lives at risk amid the coronavirus crisis.
He also stressed that due to the lack of healthcare services provided for mothers, pregnant women who need a caesarean section will have to go to areas controlled by the Syrian regime to deliver their babies.
However, after the delivery, the authorities prevent them from returning to the camp.
The organization, Amnesty International, pointed out that Rukban camp and its environment, with population of close to 10,000 displaced people are only attended to, medically, by a few doctors and nurses and only one midwife and have been suffering a shortage of food, water and medicines for more than four years with a deterioration in the last two years.
The foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, has informed the United Nations special envoy to Syria, Geir Pederson, of his intent not to allow enrty of any humanitarian aid to the Rukban camp.
Safadi stressed that, “Jordan will neither allow the entry of aid to the Rukban camp via its territory nor the passage of persons from the camp to the kingdom for any reason, and confirming that protecting the Jordanian citizens from the coronavirus pandemic is the utmost priority.”
Jordan regards the gathering of displaced Syrians in the Rukban area on Syrian soil as an international and Syrian responsibility and that any humanitarian or medical assistance needed by the camp’s residents must come from the Syrian interior.
Maalouf nevertheless emphasised that “The Syrian and Jordanian governments must ensure the transfer of humanitarian aid to the camp without restrictions.”
Maalouf expressed that, “Although the Jordanian authorities have the right to take the necessary measures to protect the population from the coronavirus pandemic, they must not endanger the lives of others while doing so.”
Jordan, which borders Syria, closed the Rukban crossing in 2016 following a bloody attack on Jordanian soldiers, for which Daesh claimed responsibility.
The transportation of aid from areas controlled by the Syrian regime to the camp, which is located in a region where US-backed fighters are stationing, requires permission.
