Amnesty International has made a direct appeal to the United States, urging it to provide crucial humanitarian aid to over 8,000 displaced Syrians residing in the Rukban camp, located in a remote region of southeastern Syria at the junction of the borders with Jordan and Iraq. The organization’s call was issued on Monday, underscoring the dire living conditions faced by the camp’s inhabitants, who have been stranded due to the regional conflict.
The Rukban camp came into existence as a crossing point for Syrian refugees fleeing the Syrian Civil War since 2011. However, in light of security concerns, Jordan blocked refugees at Rukban from further entry, leading to the establishment of the refugee camp. The United States maintains a military base approximately 16 kilometers from Rukban and has exercised effective control over the area since 2016.
In recent years, the Syrian government has intensified its blockade of the camp, preventing the delivery of UN aid to the displaced Syrians. Amnesty International is advocating for the US to deliver essential life-saving assistance, including food, clean water, and healthcare, to the camp’s residents. Aya Majzoub, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, stated, “The Syrian government must immediately lift its siege on the area and allow humanitarian aid deliveries to reach residents of the camp.”
Under international humanitarian law, occupation occurs when a hostile army exercises effective control over a territory. The Hague Regulations of 1907 and others stipulate that the occupying power is responsible for ensuring the basic needs and the functioning of public services for the civilian population under its control. The US has, however, denied its status as an occupying power in Rukban, as articulated by former US Special Representative for Syria Engagement James Jeffrey during the Aspect Security Forum in 2019.
Despite the complicated legal and security issues surrounding the camp, Amnesty International insists that immediate action is needed to avert further humanitarian catastrophe in Rukban.
For further details, the original article can be found on JURIST.