BREAKING NEWS

UN seeks access to Palestinians in Syria after 15 die of hunger

The United Nations appealed onMonday for the Syrian army and rebel fighters to allow urgentaid to reach a Palestinian district of southern Damascus whereit said 15 people have died of malnutrition in recent months.

UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) spokesman Chris Gunnesssaid five Palestinian refugees died in the Yarmouk district overthe weekend. Ten others have died since September, the last timethe UN was able to deliver aid to Yarmouk.

"The situation has progressively deteriorated for some20,000 Palestinians trapped inside Yarmouk," he told Reuters.