Scabies, tuberculosis spread in SNA prisons in northern Syria
SERE KANIYE, Syria (North Press) – More than 140 detainees in a prison held by the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), in the city of Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain) in Hasakah Governorate, northeast Syria, have been infected with varying degrees of scabies and tuberculosis amid a lack of healthcare.
A medical team, after visiting the prison, has urged the prison administration to initiate a rapid treatment phase and isolate more than 140 detainees due to their obvious cases of scabies and tuberculosis, a supervisor at the central prison in Sere Kaniye said.
The Central Prison in Sere Kaniye is under the supervision of the Turkish intelligence.
Sere Kaniye has been under the Turkish occupation and the SNA control since 2019 following the so-called Peace Spring military operation against the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) under the pretext of “protecting the Turkish national security.”
The supervisor, who requested not to be named for security reasons, added that the prison administration refused to follow the medical team’s instructions, considering the decision should be made by the Turkish intelligence.
The source mentioned that the level of humidity, pollution, and the lack of general cleanliness measures in the prison are extremely high, as the prison administration has refused taking any measures for healthcare. Additionally, it has prevented access to medication despite the deteriorating health conditions of some detainees.
He noted that the communal cell accommodates an average of 200-250 detainees within an area that does not exceed 100-130 square meters. The prison includes 16 communal cells, the majority of the detainees are accused of terrorism. There are also individual detainees.