Palestinian refugee families taking shelter in AlHadiqa refugee camp, in Ar-Ramtha city, situated in the far northwest of Jordan, continue to appeal for urgent humanitarian action in response to the squalid conditions they have been enduring in the camp as a result of the lockdown measures slapped in the area to help fight the novel coronavirus.

Activists said the residents have been denied free access out of and into the area due to the quarantine imposed on the camp for months.

A Palestinian refugee compared the camp to an open-air prison, saying some 600 displaced families sheltered in the area have been struggling with a squalid condition and suffering psychological breakdowns.

The poor healthcare services and the absence of medicines and medical equipment have made the situation worse.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said Palestinian refugees in Jordan are highly vulnerable and hundreds of recorded refugees are members of female-headed households, which increases their vulnerability.

Palestinian refugees who have entered from conflict zones, including Syria, to Jordan irregularly are living under continuous risk of arrest, detention and potential for forced deportation. Their lack of legal status and corresponding protection risks in Jordan are a source of major concern.