JOINT STATEMENT
by joint coordination headquarters of the Russian Federation and the Syrian Arab Republic “On the plight of the Rukban camp refugees»
March 11, 2019
Today it is the 1,775th day as the Syrian citizens have been forcibly detained in Rukban refugee camp by US-controlled armed groups in the occupied al-Tanf zone.
Despite the unprecedented measures taken by the Syrian authorities, the residents of the Rukban camp still cannot return home due to the tough opposition of the American side.
As stated by the official representative of the US Central Command Captain B. Urban, Washington is ready to ensure, together with its partners, the security of the movement of UN humanitarian convoys to the Rukban camp through the 55-kilometer zone around Al-Tanf. At the same time, it is well known that “partners” are none other than local gangs of Magavir al-Saura.
The United States allegedly does not restrict the exit from the camp for the temporarily displaced persons and allow everyone to leave it if they are guaranteed a voluntary, safe and dignified return to their homes. And all the statements of the Russian and Syrian sides about the forced detention of refugees, and the humanitarian disaster in the camp are declared propaganda.
But at the same time, armed to the teeth, well-fed and contented militants of the Magavir al-Saur still forcibly seize innocent Syrian citizens, including the elderly, women and children.
This is done with the knowledge and direct support of the guardians of the radicals of the American garrison in Al-Tanf.
From this one can conclude that the United States have nothing to answer to the undeniable facts we cited about the terrifying conditions in the camp, so they use traditional methods – accusations of “propaganda” and bare-faced lies!
Washington does not care about the humanitarian catastrophe happening in the camp due to the fault of the United States, and they are trying to shift the responsibility to Russia and Syria.
It is advantageous for the USA to keep the camp of temporarily displaced persons at Al-Tanf for as long as possible to justify its illegal presence in the south of the Republic.
We once again declare that a humanitarian catastrophe in the Rukban camp is a reality!
The UN representatives recognize this and report the existence of “grocery slavery” in the camp, early marriages, sexual abuse, theft and violence, hunger and disease, poor sanitation, as well as an serious shortage of drinking water, and there is no qualified medical assistance.
To go outside the camp, they need to pay $300, which is simply too much for any resident of the camp.
They simply do not have this money!
Many facts are confirmed by satellite images, where one can see security barriers, a powerful wall and a specially equipped checkpoint are clearly visible around the perimeter of Rukban.
These structures are more like a “corral” in order not to allow the residents of the camp to leave its territory. And their so-called freedom of movement, comparable to the freedom of animals in a cage or aviary.
This is quite in the spirit of the colonial thinking of the Americans.
In this situation, we appeal to the entire civilized world community – to initiate at all international and domestic sites a discussion on the Rukban camp related to the catastrophic situation of the Syrians staying in it.
And we urge the American partners to launch an immediate and meaningful dialogue on measures and concrete solutions for the rescue of the camp residents who are practically in the “ghetto” forcibly deprived of their liberty.
It is suggested that all parties by joint actions should immediately evacuate from the camp the most suffering part of the population: the sick, the elderly, women and children.
We very much count on the constructive position of the American side in resolving this important issue.
Head of Russian Joint Coordination Committee on Repatriation of Syrian Refugees – Head of National Centre for State Defence Control of the Russian Federation
Mizintsev M.
Head of Syrian Joint Coordination Committee on Repatriation of Syrian Refugees – Local Administration Minister of the Syrian Arab Republic
Makhlouf H.
SYRIA 360° INTERNATIONALIST 