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THE CRISIS FACING Palestinian refugees in Syria has been raised with the Iranian government – by an Irish politician.
Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Seán Crowe, today raised the plight of Palestinians at the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria, with the Iranian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Crowe is currently in Iran with as part of a Foreign Affairs Committee delegation and they met the Foreign Affairs Minister today.
Speaking after the meeting, Crowe said that the 20,000 refugees are “caught in the crossfire” between Syrian rebels and military.
“As rebel forces refuse to leave the camp it has been besieged by the Syrian army, which is creating a severe humanitarian crisis, as the residents have extremely limited access to food, medicines, and other vital supplies.
“Due to the fighting and the siege the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has been unable to deliver any aid to the camp since last September, and at least 15 people have died of hunger.”
The raising of the plight of Palestinian refugees comes against the backdrop of Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Richard Bruton’s trip to the Gulf region. This visit was deemed “not the time or place” to raise human rights concerns.
UNRWA has said that the refugees are surviving in harsh conditions, many on a diet of stale vegetables, animal feed and cooking spices dissolved in water. Crowe said he is hopeful Iran can use its standing in the region to help solve the problem.
I raised the issue with the Iranian Foreign Minister to appeal to him to use his influence in Damascus to try and ensure the Syrian authorities resolve the situation peacefully and allow vital aid to reach these refugees as soon as possible.
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I wonder- what were his religious affiliations?
@Atheos Euripides: you must be so proud
@lavbeer: what did he say?
@Suzie Sunshine: he reckoned that year man is innocent!
@Brian Ward: lol! he’s off the wall if he thinks that. .
@Suzie Sunshine: see virtual architect comment below. That was basically it.
@lavbeer: cheers . Classic Atheos ..
@Atheos Euripides: For attacking 2 cops with a 4 foot sword! He was hardly there to give them a hot towel shave and a hair cut.
@Atheos Euripides: “alt-right” Ouch! “racist” Ouch!! “snowflake” Ouch! “Islamophobe” Ooff! You’re so mean, I’m going to tell your mammy.
Thankfully no one died! ..heard there’s no candles left anyway
Glad they arrested him to get much needed intelligence from him hence the second arrest and hopefully more
Hope they get a few hidings along the way
The power of the media, it creates the things it reports by inspiring others for their 15 minutes of fame?
They watched to much game of thrones
@rowan hill: Sansa Stark dies tonight…
@”": Whaaaaaaaaa
@RJ.Fallon: my money is on Sanss
@”": Grrrrrr, grumble grumble, won’t be worth watching without Sansa.
@RJ.Fallon: i do concur Mr fallon …i hope I’m wrong
@”": Don’t call me Mr. ,I’ll have to buy a suit…RJ, my real name.
So another head the ball try to kill someone . Why is that news . Put an end to it , shoot him arrest him .dont make a fuss about it that’s what head the balls want
@WilhelminaMCallaghan: inclined to agree with this approach. Remove him and any accomplices from society quickly, quietly and ruthlessly. Don’t report it. It’s helping them and not us as the information does not help us avoid a future encounter.
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