Al-Qaeda’s al-Nusra reoccupies refugee camp in Damascus

Al-Qaeda’s al-Nusra reoccupies refugee camp in Damascus
Sun Mar 2, 2014 22:08:50

Al-Qaeda’s al-Nusra Front has entered Yermouk refugee camp in Syrian capital, violating a previous agreement which obligated the terrorist group retreating from the camp.

Hesam Arafat, a top member of the People’s front for liberation of Palestine, said on Sunday that, a large number militants from the al-Nusra Front entered the al-Rija square and al-Thalathin street in the camp and occupied the whole surrounding area.

They managed to recapture all areas they retreated from, Arafat said.

The al-Nusra Front confirmed returning to the camp by issuing a statement, distributed earlier over Takfiri websites, saying that it rejects any coming proposal.

Yarmouk camp was once home to some 150,000 Palestinians, as well as Syrian residents. But now just an estimated 18,000 Palestinians remain in the camp, much of which has been destroyed in fighting.

But large parts of the camp have been destroyed by fighting and many residents have fled, with just 18,000 left behind.

In January, Palestinian factions negotiated a deal under which the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA was able to begin distributing some food aid to remaining residents, and around 1,500 civilians were evacuated.

Arafat warned return of the militants was ‘dangerous’ for people, as insecurity and violence would make the aide process stop.

He said the move could take back all improvements to ‘point zero’ right where the problems started.

Al-Nusra is the official representative of al-Qaeda in Syria war.

The group has been notorious across Syria for its extremist acts of violence, including widespread tortures and public executions.

SHI/SHI

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