The United Nations called on Friday for “unhindered humanitarian” access to civilians fleeing ISIS in the last pocket held by the terrorist group in eastern Syria. In the past week alone, the UN says more than 10,000 people have fled from the conflict zone to al-Hol, where the main camp for people displaced by the fighting against ISIS is located. "Humanitarian actors have collectively requested forces in control of the area to designate a transit site en route for al-Hol where life-saving assistance can be provided," said Andrej Mahecic, spokesman for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). So far, the request "remains unanswered," he told journalists in Geneva. The area is under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by a US-led coalition, which are battling the last shreds of ISIS near the town of Hajin in the Euphrates River valley. The UNHCR says families fleeing the Hajin enclave describe a harrowing journey, "wading through mine fields and open fighting". Once reaching the SDF positions, "they describe being herded into open trucks and having to endure another arduous journey in winter weather northwards to al-Hol camp. Little or no assistance is provided en route to the hungry and cold people, the vast majority of whom are women and children," a UNHCR statement said. Nearly 30 children have died in recent weeks after making their way out of Hajin, Mahecic said. He revealed that malnourishment and hypothermia have been the principal causes of the 29 childrens deaths. "We reiterate our calls for unhindered humanitarian access. It is vital that our teams are able to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance, especially during this harsh winter period," he demanded. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said many of those in al-Hol are Iraqi citizens. The Syrian conflict has killed 360,000 people and led millions to flee their homes since starting with the brutal repression on anti-regime protests in 2011.