Nearly 500 refugees exit Syrian Rukban camp in past 24 hours
HMEIMIM. April 12 (Interfax) - A total of 459 civilians have exited the Rukban camp in Syria in the past 24 hours through a humanitarian passage, the head of the Russian Center for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, Maj. Gen. Vladimir Kupchishin, said at a press briefing on Thursday.
"In all, 2,284 persons have left the Rukban camp for the territory controlled by the Syrian authorities since February 19," Kupchishin said.
He also reported ongoing violations of the ceasefire by illegal armed units operating in the Idlib de-escalation area.
"Militants have attacked Jubb al-Zarur (twice) and Eyn al-Ashra in the Latakia province, Tell Bizam in the Hama province, and the area of a scientific research center in the city of Aleppo," Kupchishin said.
Moscow and Damascus said earlier that the Rukban situation was critical and camp residents were in dire need of food, warm clothes, and medicines.
Russia blamed the United States for hindering international humanitarian supplies to Rukban and preventing refugees from leaving the camp. It has repeatedly urged the United States to pull troops out of the at-Tanf area and to pass the territory under control of the Syrian government.