MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the situation of the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria

28.4.2015 - (2015/2664(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Cristian Dan Preda, Ramona Nicole Mănescu, Arnaud Danjean, László Tőkés, Claude Rolin, Tunne Kelam, Francesc Gambús, Andrzej Grzyb, Jiří Pospíšil, Jaromír Štětina, Bogdan Brunon Wenta, Giovanni La Via, David McAllister, Marijana Petir, Davor Ivo Stier, Therese Comodini Cachia, Esther de Lange, Eduard Kukan, Csaba Sógor, Andrej Plenković, József Nagy, Pál Csáky, Joachim Zeller, Franck Proust, Dubravka Šuica, Stanislav Polčák, Tomáš Zdechovský, Ivan Štefanec, Pavel Svoboda, Michaela Šojdrová, Teresa Jiménez-Becerril Barrio, Monica Macovei, Lara Comi, Ivana Maletić, Elisabetta Gardini on behalf of the PPE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0373/2015

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B8‑0410/2015

European Parliament resolution on the situation of the Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria

(2015/2664(RSP))

The European Parliament,

 

-    having regard to its previous resolutions on Syria,

-    having regard to the statement by the Vice-President of the European Commission/High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) and the Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management of 10 April 2015, on the situation in Yarmouk, Syria,

-    having regard to the declaration by the VP/HR on behalf of the European Union of 18 April 2015, on the situation in the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in Syria,

-    having regard to United Nations Security Council resolutions 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014) and 2191(2014),

-    having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the ongoing violent crisis in Syria has resulted in the death of more than 200.000 people, most of them civilians, and left more than 7.6 million people internally displaced; whereas the terrorist organisation Islamic State (ISIS/Daesh) has established unlawful, so-called ‘shari’a courts’ in the territory under its control, carrying out cruel and inhuman punishments against Syrian people;

B.  whereas Yarmouk, the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, formed in 1957 to accommodate people fleeing the Arab-Israeli conflict, has been engulfed in fighting between the Syrian government and armed groups such as Jabhat al-Nusra and the Free Syrian Army, since December 2012; whereas before the Syrian conflict more than 150.000 civilians lived in the camp, while today only 18.000 remain;

C. whereas ISIS/Daesh attacked the Palestinian refugee camp in Yarmouk on 1 April 2015, controlling 90% of the camp; whereas on 16 April 2015 Palestinian military units, with the assistance of Syrian rebels, have forced ISIS/Daesh fighters to retreat from the camp; whereas Daesh's withdrawal leaves al Qaeda-linked Jabhat al-Nusra largely in control of the camp;

D. whereas the Syrian government forces have intensified the shelling and aerial bombardment of the camp in response to the takeover by ISIS/Daesh;

E. whereas the vulnerability of civilians in Yarmouk remains of the highest severity; whereas according to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), 18.000 Palestinian and Syrian civilians in Yarmouk are in need of the most basic humanitarian aid, including 3.500 children; whereas the ongoing denial of humanitarian access to the refugees living in the Yarmouk camp is against international humanitarian law;

F. whereas on 7 April 2015 it was announced that the European Union is providing emergency funding of €2.5 million to UNRWA, to deliver life-saving assistance to Palestinian refugees in Syria;

1. Condemns the shelling of the Yarmouk refugee camp by the Syrian regime, Jabhat al-Nusra front and ISIS/Daesh; expresses its serious concern about the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Syria and in particular in the Yarmouk refugee camp; reiterates its strong commitment in supporting the victims of the Syrian conflict;

2. Urges the parties to cease all attacks against civilians, to comply with international humanitarian law and to ensure that civilians are protected, have unhindered access to medical facilities and humanitarian assistance, and are able to leave areas affected by violence safely and with dignity;

3. Calls for the implementation of the UNSC Resolutions 2139 (2014), 2165 (2014) and 2191 (2014) throughout the territory of Syria; urges all parties involved in the conflict to allow the UNRWA and other international aid organisations, unhindered access to the Yarmouk refugee camp to enable immediate and unconditional humanitarian access and provide safe passage for all civilians who wish to leave the Yarmouk refugee camp;

4. Commends UNRWA for the work it is doing; calls for increased international support for its activities: providing assistance for civilians who are unwilling or unable to leave Yarmouk, assisting those who want to "temporarily relocate" from the camp to do so in accordance with international humanitarian law and assisting Yarmouk refugee camp residents who have already fled;

5.  Welcomes the EU emergency funding; welcomes the commitments made by Member States of the EU, as the biggest donor of financial aid, and their pledges for the future;

6. Is convinced that a lasting solution to the current crisis in Syria can only be achieved through a Syrian-led, inclusive political process based on the Geneva communiqué of June 2012, with the support of the international community; reiterates its calls on the EU to take the initiative for diplomatic efforts to that end;

7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and all the parties involved in the conflict in Syria.