A/HRC/21/32 the Syrian Arab Republic, including refugees and diplomatic staff members, and the protection of their property. 51. The situation in the Syrian Arab Republic has gradually and significantly affected the situation of refugees living in the country, including 500,000 Palestinian refugees and more than 103,000 registered Iraqi refugees.4 In June 2012, UNHCR noted that refugees inside the Syrian Arab Republic had not been directly targeted during armed clashes, even though they were increasingly reporting security incidents affecting them. The conflict had a negative impact on the ability to deliver protection and assistance to such refugees.5 52. In its note verbale dated 16 July 2012, the Government pointed out that it guaranteed the security and safety of all diplomats, refugees and tourists, as evidenced by its history as a haven for people who sought refuge from persecution or discrimination. The Government reported that a certain number of refugees had been killed by gunfire, explosives or other criminal methods, referring also to the discovery of the corpses of 19 young Palestinian men near Aleppo who had allegedly been kidnapped by “terrorist armed groups” and subsequently executed. 53. The Government pointed out that there was a category of foreigners “sponsored by other Member States” who had illegally entered the Syrian Arab Republic to carry out terrorist attacks. It referred to its letter dated 16 May 2012 addressed to the SecretaryGenera, the President of the Security Council and the Chairperson of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1373 (2001) concerning counter-terrorism (S/2012/328), in which it listed the names of 10 non-Syrian citizens who had illegally entered the country and been killed while engaging in terrorist armed operations against the Syrian army. 54. Furthermore, the Government reported that it detained 26 foreigners who, it stated, were engaged in terrorist acts. It pointed out that the leadership of al-Qaida had called upon its members to go and fight in the Syrian Arab Republic. According to the Government, once the involvement of foreign nationals was revealed, “terrorist armed groups” deliberately started disposing of the corpses of those killed, by burning or burying them in deserted areas or throwing them into rivers, to hide the proof of the involvementof foreigners. According to the Government, some of the Member States who had sponsored Human Rights Council resolution 19/22 were training, supporting and hiring mercenaries to fight in the Syrian Arab Republic, with complete disregard for international efforts to combat mercenaries, including relevant decisions of the General Assembly and the Council. G. Cities under siege 55. In paragraph 11 (d) of its resolution 19/22, the Human Rights Council demanded that the Syrian authorities lift the blockade of all cities under siege. The Government did not provide OHCHR with information thereon. 56. Further reports indicate that the number of checkpoints controlled by Government forces and by anti-Government armed groups increased throughout the country. Lists of wanted persons were reportedly circulated and individuals were arrested at checkpoints in the governerates of Homs, Al Ladhiqiyah, Idlib, Aleppo, Dar’a and Damacus. Government checkpoints were also reportedly preventing access of patients to health care. 4 5 Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Humanitarian Bulletin, Middle East and North Africa, No. 2, May-June 2012. The Government estimated the presence of some 1 million Palestinian refugees, and as many refugees from Iraq. 13