The United Nations (U.N.) Security Council described the Yarmouk Palestinian Refugee Camp in southern Damascus as "beyond inhumane" as the camp was attacked by Islamic State (IS) militants.

"That means there is no food, there is no water and there is very little medicine," said Chris Gunness, the spokesperson of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

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"The situation in the camp is beyond inhumane. People are holed up in their houses. There is fighting going on in the streets. There are reports of bombardments. This has to stop and civilians must be evacuated," Gunness added.

The condition of around 18,000 Yarmouk refugees in the camp worsened when IS militants attacked the camp, prompting gun-battles between the militants and Palestinian fighters. The sporadic clashes allegedly led the Syrian government in shelling the camp and dropping barrel bombs.

The seemingly catastrophic incident fired-up the U.N. Security Council to call for utmost protection and safe evacuation of refugees as well as provide them with life-saving assistance. The U.N. Security Council also sought for humanitarian access to the camp. It also condemned the attacks and pushed for the punishment of those who were involved in the "grave crimes."

"They've [IS] left the population on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe," said U.S. State Department Spokesperson Marie Harf during a press conference in Washington.

"We are calling on all parties of the conflict to allow regular, uninterrupted humanitarian access to the population in Yarmouk."

Palestinian U.N. Ambassador Riyad Mansour also encouraged the U.N. Security Council to find ways for the safe evacuation of refugees. He asked help to all nations for the relocation of evacuees to safer areas in Syria or in other places outside Syria.

The Yarmouk refugees, which include large number of children, have been situated in the government-besieged camp for almost two years already. Aside from lack of food and medicines, the camp has also witnessed several deadly encounters between Syrian government forces and opposing militants.

Tags refugees, IS