MSF Aid Group Calls on Jordan to Allow Medical Access to Syrian Refugees

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Doctors Without Borders (Medicines Sans Frontiers, or MSF) international humanitarian group called on the Jordanian authorities to gain access to about 75,000 Syrian refugees, who have become trapped in an isolated desert area between Syria and Jordan known as "the Berm."

"In light of the current desperate situation in the Berm, MSF calls on the Government of Jordan to remove restrictions on humanitarian aid and to allow its medical team to have access to the Berm, so that they can directly assess the medical needs of Syrians stranded there," the humanitarian organization said in a statement.

According to MSF, the Berm residents have only received limited water distributions and food assistance but did not receive medical care since June at all. The Jordanian authorities gave limited access for some aid groups, excluding medical services.

"There are unverified reports of a new outbreak of a respiratory illness, manifested by persistent coughing, including several deaths," MSF medical team leader Dr Natalie Thurtle warned in the statement.

Earlier in September, Amnesty International informed of deaths and diseases, using information from satellite images and video footage.