MOSCOW. Jan 15 (Interfax) - The Russian Foreign Ministry has condemned the actions of insurgents in obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Yarmouk Camp of Palestinian refugees in Damascus and insisted on local ceasefires in the run-up to the Geneva II international conference on Syria.
"Moscow strongly condemns such provocative actions by armed groups, which obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid to the civilian population of the blockaded districts, including the Yarmouk Camp of Palestinian refugees. We are urging all parties that can influence the opposition forces in Syria to affect them as much as possible in the interests of supporting civilians suffering from the internal conflict in this country," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on its website on Tuesday.
"We believe that various humanitarian steps, including local ceasefires in the areas of clashes, are especially necessary at the moment, in the run-up to the convention of the Geneva II international conference," it said.
A significant part of the Yarmouk Camp has been under control of various Syrian opposition units, who have effectively turned its residents into hostages, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The camp is experiencing great difficulties with its provisions of food and medical aid. The Syrian government has repeatedly attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to the camp's districts controlled by insurgents.
One of the recent such attempts was made on January 13, when an automobile convoy traveling under a UN flag and delivering humanitarian aid (food and medicines) could not pass to Yarmouk Camp as it came under mortar and sniper fire by insurgent groups. The Palestinian labor minister, who is currently in Damascus, confirmed this fact later.