CRI听力:Palestinians Flee Fighting in Damascus Refugee Camp

New reports are suggesting the Islamic State now controls around 90-percent of a Palestinian refugee camp in the Syrian capital, Damascus.

It's said that around 18 thousand Palestinian refugees remain trapped inside the camp.

The United Nations is making a public plea to allow the civilians still inside the camp to leave.

It's also asking for access to the camp itself to allow for relief materials to be brought in.

Pierre Krahenbuhl is with the UN Relief Agency.

"Three weeks ago it was clear that that civilians were in an extremely weak condition. (The situation) has never been as grave and desperate as its now in Yarmouk Camp. It is a place that has been besieged for two years where about 18000 people have been surviving on very minimal assistance for a long time and now with fighting intensifying their lives are in immediate danger. I think you know that not only there are the 18000 civilians but there are 3500 children among them. And with the intensity of the confrontations, our call has been for parties to immediately suspend military operations that put civilians in danger."

It's being reported a Palestinian militia is helping lead the fight against the Islamic State militants in the camp, along with fighters with the Free Syrian Army.

The Islamic State took over large areas of the camp on Wednesday.

It's said to be the group's first major attack near the heart of the Syrian capital.

The conflict in Syria, which has entered its fifth year, has claimed the lives of more than 200 thousand people.

It has also displaced millions of others.