RAMALLAH
By Qais Abu Samra
Palestinian Labor Minister Ahmad Majdalani said Wednesday that all non-Palestinian militant groups have withdrawn from Yarmouk refugee camp, south of Syrian capital Damascus.
"Armed Palestinians are being deployed at the camp to prevent the return of the militants," Majdalani, who is responsible for the file of Palestinian refugee camps in Syria, told Anadolu Agency.
He said a panel formed by Palestine Liberation Organization (POL) members had checked all hideouts used by militants "and made sure they are no longer there".
"Palestinian and Syrian teams will soon enter the camp to assess the damage caused by the war.
Groups of local Palestinian vigilantes started Wednesday to survey the needs of the residents of the camp in an attempt to bring life inside the camp back to normal.
Some 100 camp residents have already died of starvation, according to statements issued by a coalition of 40 Syrian opposition groups.
Currently, around 18,000 people live in Yarmouk refugee camp, which has remained under siege by Syrian regime forces and pro-regime militias since last September. Most of those seeking shelter there are Palestinian women and children.
In January, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees was able to enter the camp to distribute food supplies after having demanded access to the besieged camp for weeks.
Majdalani said around 92 percent of the camp residents had left it because of the war.
The Palestinian minister said Palestinian groups would be responsible for protecting the camp until they reach an agreement with the Syrian authorities.
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