Russia, Syria warn food and water drying up in Rukban refugee camp

People stranded in the Rukban refugee camp in the US-controlled zone of Syria get less than 5 liters of water per person per day. This is barely enough for cooking and drinking, and insufficient for proper personal hygiene, the Russian and Syrian Joint Coordination Committees for Repatriation of Syrian Refugees said in a statement released by the Russian Defense Ministry on Tuesday.

"Behind the camp’s wall are reservoirs with a volume of 210 cubic meters, into which water brought from Jordan is filled and then distributed among the camp’s residents. Simple calculations show that each resident can receive no more than 5 liters of water per day. That is not only barely enough for cooking and drinking, but also insufficient for washing and doing laundry, which leads to unsanitary conditions," the ministry stressed.

That said, US-backed militants from the Maghawir al-Thawra ring, (aka the Revolutionary Commando Army) disrupt water deliveries to the camp, criminally using it as a bargaining chip for blackmailing and profiteering purposes. Furthermore, burial sites and garbage dumps that dot the area close to housing locations are worsening the already dire humanitarian situation in the camp.

The ministry pointed to the persistent shortage of food, warm clothing and medication in addition to the poor sanitary and epidemiological situation. Refugees suffer from exhaustion, acute intestinal diseases and infections.

The Rukban refugee camp emerged on the Syrian-Jordanian border in 2014 after Amman closed entry due to security and economic concerns. The area, which is controlled by illegal armed gangs, is facing a severe humanitarian crisis.

Two mobile checkpoints (Djleb and Al-Ghurab) for refugees leaving Rukban located within the 55-kilometer zone around US al-Tanf military base have been functioning since February 20, 2019.