UNRWA calls for access to the camp to see what is going on. The city has been under attack from the sea and land for several days. The Syrian military dismisses allegations about shelling by warships, calling them “baseless”.

Damascus (AsiaNews/Agencies) – More than 5,000 Palestinian refugees fled a camp in the Syrian port city of Latakia, following shelling from sea and land.

Christopher Gunness, spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), noted that the refugees fled because of shelling from warships. “We are calling for access to the camp to find out what is going on,” he said. “There were 10,000 refugees in the camp and we need to find out what is happening to them”.

Latakia is one of the latest Syrian cities to come fire from government forces bent on crushing demonstrations inspired by the ‘Arab spring’.

Tensions have risen throughout August because of Ramadan, as various groups organised prayers and demonstrations.

Rebel sources in Latakia said the government was using navy ships to shell areas held by rebels.

Quoting a high-ranking officer, Syria’s state news agency rejected the claim, calling it “baseless”.

However, anti-Assad activists said that about 30 people were killed in Latakia last weekend.

Since the Syrian government has expelled all foreign journalists and restricted local communications, such claims cannot be independently verified.

• syria
• latakia
• warships
• shelling
• palestinian
• refugees