Aid workers killed in Syria's camp for Palestinian refugees

Two aid workers were killed at the Khan Eshieh Palestinian refugee camp in rural Damascus on Monday by barrel bombs dropped on the area.

According to the Jafra Foundation, a charity that serves the camp, the cluster bombs dropped by Russian planes killed 32-year-old Mohammad Abo Sitteh and 22-year-old Abdullah Issa – both of whom worked for the organisation.

This latest attack, which was part of a week of heavy bombardment on Khan Eshieh, comes less than two months after another one of the foundation's workers was killed by a cluster bomb as he carried out his morning duty of cleaning the streets.

Since May 2016, 25 residents of the Palestinian camp have been killed by regime bombing that has indiscriminately bombed houses and schools, causing many of the camp's children to go without education.

Khan Eshieh was once home to around 30,000 people, but now houses less than half that number, with around 3,000 children and 1,000 elderly people, Jafra said.

Now under siege, the camp is suffering from a severe lack of medical supplies and food for its inhabitants that remain.

"All roads between Khan Eshieh Camp and nearby Zakia town witness increased sniping and shelling, and many locals have dubbed the dangerous route as 'Death Road,'" the Jafra Foundation said in a statement.

"This is the only supply line for Khan Eshieh Camp residents. As security incidents in the area continue to increase, supplies inside the camp have begun to disappear".

Russia has been widely accused of bombing civilian targets in Syria, while claiming to be targeting the positions of extremist elements within the Syrian opposition. Last month, the United States held Russia responsible for the bombing of a UN aid convoy.

On Monday, the US ceased bilateral discussions with Russia regarding the Syria conflict amid heated disagreements about ceasefire violations and responsibility for the continued threat of extremist groups in the war-torn country.

"Everybody's patience with Russia has run out," White House spokesman John Earnest said.

"What is clear is there is nothing more for the US and Russia to talk about with regard to trying to reach an agreement that would reduce the levels of violence inside of Syria. And that's tragic."