YARMOUK
Food Distributions
UNRWA has distributed 8,173 food parcels to Palestine refugees (PR) in Yarmouk since 18 January, facilitated by authorities on the ground. No food parcels were distributed in this period due to ongoing hostilities. UNRWA distributed 465 food parcels on 18 March, along with 2,000 doses of polio vaccine and 800 small cartons of baby formula through the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
Set against the substantial civilian needs and protracted closure of Yarmouk, the modest supplies UNRWA has taken in are not enough. UNRWA requires secure, substantial and sustained humanitarian access, as the UN Security Council has unanimously requested. UNRWA calls on all concerned parties to ensure the establishment and maintenance of conditions that facilitate full access to Yarmouk.
Thunderclap Campaign
UNRWA launched a Thunderclap social-media campaign for humanitarian access to Yarmouk and all civilian areas of Syria. We achieved the aim of reaching 23 million people, the pre-war population of Syria. As a result, the iconic image of thousands of people waiting for food in Yarmouk will appear on the massive electronic billboard in New York’s Times Square on Thursday 20 March at 7.30 p.m. and 8.30 p.m. local time for five minutes each. A flash-mob vigil is being organized underneath it when the image appears. UNRWA will photograph this and tweet it back to the people inside Syria in an act of solidarity and support. You can still join the campaign at
https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/9565 -letusthrough?locale=en
Over 30 Celebrities ask the UN “What are you doing about Syria?”
On 15 March, over 30 leading filmmakers, writers, artists, musicians and public figures made a joint public appeal to UN asking the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council to make clear what they are doing to create “local ceasefires” and “safe spaces” for all civilians in Syria. The joint statement is endorsed by the Hoping Foundation and UNRWA. See http://www.unrwa.org/newsroom/press- releases/over-30-celebrities-ask-un-%E2%80%9Cwhat-are- you-doing-about-syria%E2%80%9D