U.N. Aid Convoy Arrives at Remote Rukban Camp in Syria, Reports Reuters

AMMAN – The largest United Nations humanitarian aid convoy since the beginning of the Syrian conflict has successfully reached the Rukban refugee camp. This camp, located in the desert near the Jordanian border, is currently home to thousands of desperate individuals.

The convoy, comprising over 100 trucks, delivered essential supplies including food, sanitation and hygiene items, as well as health assistance. According to Fadwa AbedRabou Baroud, a U.N. spokesperson based in Damascus, “Conditions at Rukban are increasingly desperate. The majority of the population are women and children who have endured harsh conditions for over two years.”

The Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) is also involved in this convoy, which includes an emergency vaccination campaign aimed at immunizing 10,000 children against measles, polio, and other preventable diseases.

Rukban, adjacent to the Tanf U.S. military base, hosts between 40,000 and 50,000 residents. The last U.N. aid convoy to the camp occurred in November. Over the past three years, tens of thousands of people have sought refuge in Rukban to escape air strikes in territories controlled by the Islamic State.

This camp is situated within a “deconfliction zone” established by U.S. forces. Both Moscow and Damascus have criticized the U.S. presence, claiming it acts as a safe haven for rebels and demanding the withdrawal of American troops from the area. The U.S.-protected zone has led many residents to remain in Rukban instead of returning to government-controlled areas, where they fear possible retribution.

Local officials report that many young people are concerned about being conscripted into the Syrian army. The United Nations and Jordan have expressed that the situation in Rukban is unsustainable in the long term, advocating for voluntary resettlement of the camp’s inhabitants.

Aid workers have reported that shortages of food and medicine at the camp have resulted in numerous fatalities in recent years. “While this delivery of assistance will provide much-needed support to people at Rukban, it is only a temporary measure,” stated Sajjad Malik, the acting U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. He stressed that a long-term solution is urgently needed.