Syrian government ignores quake-affected people in Aleppo
ALEPPO, Syria (North Press) – Residents affected by the earthquake in Aleppo Governorate, northwestern Syria, continue to complain about government negligence and procrastination in providing the necessary support after their properties were damaged by the destructive earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey on Feb. 6, 2023.
A local source told North Press that despite the promises made by the Syrian government to build new residential units for the affected residents, there has been no action to support these people.
The source, who works in Aleppo’s provincial government building, said that Iraq had provided prefabricated houses for those affected. The concerned authorities, however, halted the completion of the project, citing a lack of budget to continue establishing sewage systems and drinking water networks, and securing alternative energy for more than 150 housing units in the Jibrin area in the eastern countryside of Aleppo.
Government authorities in Aleppo issued six lists which include names and neighborhoods affected by the earthquake. Those people were classified into two categories: the first within organized neighborhoods and the second is those who live in illegally constructed buildings.
The source mentioned that the provincial government building, in collaboration with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has allocated a sum of money to compensate those affected and own damaged properties within licensed buildings in organized neighborhoods.
The first category affected who met the agreed-upon criteria for support set by the Aleppo Operations Room and approved by the UNHCR received a sum of 4,200,000 SYP ($280).
The second category of affected individuals received a sum of 40 million SYP, recorded as a payment in their accounts in the General Establishment for Housing under the name of projects under construction.
At the beginning of 2024, the Syrian government issued a decision to terminate the special operations rooms assisting those affected by the earthquake.
According to the same source, the delay in completing the prefabricated housing project is attributed to the provision of interest-free loans amounting to 200 million SYP.