UNITED NATIONS — The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees says there is a typhoid outbreak among civilians from a besieged Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, with at least six confirmed cases. Christopher Gunness, spokesman for the agency known as UNRWA, said Tuesday that its staff gained access to Yalda, an area east of the Yarmouk camp hosting displaced Palestinian refugees and Syrian civilians, for the first time since June 8. UNRWA said it confirmed cases in Yarmouk, Yalda and two other areas, Babila and Beit Sahem and was authorized to provide limited health assistance. Gunness said “UNRWA's priority remains the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians within Yarmouk itself.” When fighters from the Daesh (the so-called IS) extremist group entered camp in April, UNRWA said there were 18,000 refugees. — AP
