United Nations, April 21 (IANS): The UN Security Council (UNSC) has called for "unhindered humanitarian access" to the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp near the Syrian capital of Damascus and stressed on "the protection of civilians" there.

"The members of the security council called for unhindered humanitarian access to the Yarmouk camp and for the protection of civilians inside the camp," according to a statement issued here by the 15-nation UN body, Xinnhua reported on Monday.

"The members of the security council expressed their deep concern regarding the grave humanitarian situation in Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria," the statement added.

Earlier this month, the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and the Al Qaeda-linked Nusra Front took control of over 90 percent of the camp.

The capture of the camp, five kilometres south of Damascus, by the Nusra Front and IS groups came after four days of intense battles with the rival jihadi group, Aknaf Beit al-Maqdes, which had been in control of the camp since 2013.