In Syria, tens of thousands of civilians continue to flee from the Islamic State militant group's last stronghold in the war-torn country. The majority of them are headed to an overcrowded displacement camp in the nation's north-east city of al-Hol. The United Nations says it's gravely concerned over the conditions there and fears for the health of its residents. Meanwhile, Russia and Syria are calling on the US to disband the Rukban camp, home to more than 40 thousand displaced Syrians near the Jordanian border. The camp is located in a security zone, along with a US military base. Our reporter Stephanie Freid has more.

No one probably imagined that Syrians fleeing for their lives in 2014 to the arid Rukban area near the Iraq-Jordan border would number forty five thousand within a five year period and that they'd be stranded and cut off from support, aid, food, water and medicine for years, exposed to the elements in freezing cold winters and scorching hot summers. Syrians are returning home, but the displaced people stranded at Rukban are stuck - reportedly caught in a power struggle between rival extremists and Moscow and Damascus versus Washington.

STEPHANIE FREID MAFRAQ, JORDAN "If there's a hell on earth, that may be it behind me. Tens of thousands of syrians living in tattered tents and mud huts whose lives are controlled by militants vying for power."

The U.S. controls Syria's Rukban zone. Russia's government has accused the U.S. of holding the refugee camp hostage in order to validate a sustained presence there.

RUKBAN RESIDENT MAFRAQ, JORDAN "The camp is sealed off - it's been that way for a month. There is no movement from or to the camp. I can't leave."

Aid agencies and government officials have called for repatriation of refugees and the only way out, for now, is a medical corridor to Jordan where about a hundred people cross every day and are sent back after receiving treatment.

Jordan's government has been criticized since 2016 when the Hashemite Kingdom shuttered its borders to the desolate population after six Jordanian soldiers were killed by ISIS affiliates operating out of the remote desert area.

GENERAL ZIAD ANNAB CMDR 1ST BORDER GUARD BRIGADES, JORDAN "When you say nearly 50 thousand people live in the camp. Who are they? Are they all cooperative? Are they all peaceful? Do they have plans to sabotage Jordan?"

Food and medical supply deliveries are sporadic. In January, a UN official described the situation as dire and a "matter of life and death".

In January, at least eight children died from lack of medical supplies and exposure to Rukban's harsh climate.

Evacuating Rukban's Syrians via humantarian corridor is an urgent priority - but governing bodies controlling the area have to agree on the coordination and logistics first.