UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) — Reports emerged on Thursday that 5,000 militants and their families would be relocated from Yarmouk refugee camp near Damascus, Al Hajar Al Aswad, Al-Qadam and Al-Asali districts under an agreement brokered by an unnamed third party starting this weekend.
According to media reports, the militants permitted to carry personal weapons, would be taken to the Daesh stronghold of Raqqah as part of the agreement.
"UNRWA welcomes any developments that could end the armed conflict in and around Yarmouk…. Over the past three months, there have been persistent reports of negotiations for some form of truce or evacuation arrangement in Yarmouk. These reports are credible and UNRWA is taking them seriously, although they have not been officially or formally confirmed," the agency said in a statement.
The UNRWA said it was seeking further details of any negotiated arrangements from the Syrian government in respect of the humanitarian situation of civilians in Yarmouk. The agency stressed that any arrangements must include guarantees for a durable cessation of hostilities in the camp.
About 18,000 people are estimated to live in Yarmouk refugee camp, established in 1957.
Daesh terrorist group, outlawed in Russia, and other militants overran major portions of Yarmouk, mostly settled by Palestinian refugees, in early April.
