The Palestinian Return Centre (PRC) in London delivered an oral statement at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) as part of a discussion  with the Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic.

PRC said that more than 1,500 displaced Palestinian families live in northwestern Syria as a result of the Syrian conflict.

Citing data by the Action group for Palestinians of Syria, PRC said the death toll from the earthquake, which shook residents from their beds at the crack of dawn, rose to 20 Palestinian refugees in Turkiye and 48 in Syria.

“Today, countless families have become homeless yet again and are in desperate need of shelter, medical aid, food, and sources for heat”, said PRC’s speaker. “Countless lives are at stake and a massive scale up is needed”.

“The level of humanitarian response in the area does not match the scale of the disaster”, added PRC. “UNRWA launched an appeal to collect $2.7 million to support the Palestinian refugees affected by the earthquake, but the displaced Palestinians in northwest Syria are often excluded.”

PRC urged the international community and UN bodies to release emergency funds to provide aid and ensure lives are saved during this crisis.

It further called on UNRWA to urgently take its responsibilities towards Palestinian refugees in northern Syria as they reside within the Agency’s areas of operations.

Watch the statement here:

https://youtu.be/kRyezx6wKCg