AMMAN, Jordan — Even prior to the June 21 car bombing, which killed seven Jordanian forces at the Rukban border crossing with Syria, conditions were dire for the 75,000 asylum seekers trapped in the area on the Syrian side. Children make up over half this population that for months has resided in a scorching desert, which diplomats call "the Berm." Refugees describe their temporary dwellings as being filled with mice and snakes. Malnutrition and diarrhea have also spread widely, according to an international aid official who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity.

The refugees' conditions at the Berm deteriorated even more when the Islamic State (IS) staged an attack in the Rukban area June 21. Consequently, Amman tightened its security measures and barred food assistance to Rukban for six weeks while denying the refugees any medical care.

Negotiations between Jordan and the United Nations over a long-term solution to the Berm crisis have been difficult. Aid workers expect the talks, which began after the June 21 bombing, to last months due to the wide gaps between the parties. A UN official confirmed to Al-Monitor that negotiations are taking place at the highest levels in New York and have included the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.

An informed foreign diplomat based in Amman told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that one of the options being deliberated is a plan to push the 75,000 Syrians approximately 2 kilometers (roughly a mile) away from the border into Syria or deeper into Syria. This would provide Jordan with a buffer zone and reduce the chances of another surprise border attack while boosting the Hashemite kingdom's security. The diplomat added that in conversations with Amman about resuming aid, Jordanian officials repeatedly asked for a "long-term solution," as the Hashemite kingdom says maintaining a camp for 75,000 Syrians so close to its border threatens its security.