The International Committee of the Red Cross is calling for immediate access to the Syrian refugee camp of Yarmouk, which is under siege by the Islamic State. The Red Cross said emergency medical care is urgently needed for residents trapped by violence and lacking basics like water. A spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the situation in Yarmouk is dire.

Stéphane Dujarric: “The situation in the camp remains extremely tense with street fighting continuing and unconfirmed reports of aerial bombardments of civilian areas. UNRWA remains extremely alarmed at the sustained hostilities as they continue to inflict unimaginable pain and suffering to the 18,000 Palestinian and Syrian men, women and children trapped inside Yarmouk, who survive under constant threat of armed violence and remain unable to safely access water, food and basic healthcare.”