By Muhammad Habash
HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – A dire and tragic situation is unfolding in a camp in Northeast Syria, indicating an impending humanitarian catastrophe. Displaced individuals who have fled the escalating conflict are facing worsening conditions each day.
In Northeast Syria, there are approximately 78 camps, including 58 makeshift camps. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) manages 16 camps in the region, providing shelter for around 200,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs).
One such IDP is Adla Shaban al-Kurdi, who currently resides in Washokani camp in the countryside of Hasakah, northeastern Syria. Prior to being displaced, Adla worked as a teacher in an elementary school in the city of Sere Kaniye, northeastern Syria.
Sere Kaniye and its surrounding areas were occupied by Turkey and its affiliated armed opposition factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), in 2019 during the “Peace Spring” military operation.
This military action led to the displacement of tens of thousands of individuals from the city, who now find themselves living in camps in the countryside of Hasakah, facing challenging living conditions.
Al-Kurdi was compelled to leave her home and take up residence in Washokani camp, which was established for the internally displaced persons from Sere Kaniye following its occupation.
Despite enduring harsh conditions, she faces even greater challenges after receiving a cancer diagnosis approximately a year ago.
With limited resources and insufficient healthcare support available within the camp, al-Kurdi is unable to seek treatment at private hospitals outside the camp. To cover her medical expenses and prevent her condition from deteriorating, she relies on selling detergents.
Her condition was discovered by doctors during a cesarean section, and now she needs to travel to Damascus for treatment, incurring significant expenses.
Al-Kurdi tells North Press “We do not receive any assistance from NGOs. There are other patients suffering like me, and these organizations do not provide support.”
She points out that they tried to seek help from many organizations but only received promises, stressing the NGOs neglected her health condition.
Shamsa Ahmad, a 42-year-old IDP living in the camp, shares concerns about the inadequate healthcare available.
She highlights that when someone falls ill in the camp, they are only given painkillers, with no proper medical services accessible.
Ahmad’s son suffers from chronic coughing, but she cannot take him to a doctor because she cannot afford the cost of treatment.
Ahmad stresses that the lack of adequate healthcare facilities contributes to the spread of diseases among camp residents, further complicating their daily struggles.
Meanwhile, Khunaf Ahmad, a member of the Kurdish Red Crescent (KRC) team at the camp, explains that the center offers a range of first aid services, including pediatrics, gynecology, internal medicine, and emergency care.
Despite facing limitations in resources, the KRC remains the primary healthcare provider in the camp. Meanwhile, United Nations agencies, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), have stopped regular medical services.
The KRC, locally known as Heyva Sor A Kurd, is an independent non-governmental and non-profit organization operating in Northeast Syria. It was established in 2012 to provide medical services for the people affected by the conflict.
Data from the KRC shows that various diseases, such as scabies, cancers, heart diseases, hypertension, diarrhea, food poisoning, and others, are on the rise within the camp.
The KRC clinics deliver crucial healthcare support to approximately 200 to 250 patients each day.
Ahmad Mahmoud, an IDP from Sere Kaniye living in the camp, expresses frustration over the limited resources available for healthcare services.
Mahmoud, who suffers from severe vision impairment, laments his inability to afford necessary surgery as recommended by the doctor.
He says, “The doctor told me I need surgery, but I cannot afford it.”
The surgery costs around five million Syrian pounds (SYP, which equals about $333), and due to his health condition, Mahmoud is unable to work.
He adds the organizations in the camp do not help “cold cases” like his but he hopes the situation might get better in the future.
Malak Saleh, co-chair of the administration of the camp points out that healthcare services in the camp are limited, saying “Out of the 400 organizations operating in the area, only four organizations with limited resources provide healthcare.”
Saleh expresses concerns about the impact of insufficient healthcare, poor nutrition, inadequate drinking water, and sanitation issues on the residents’ health, particularly with the approaching summer and the heightened risk of seasonal diseases.
Saleh concludes by highlighting that most camps are situated in remote areas without access to healthcare. The lack of support raises concerns about diseases such as leishmaniasis, scabies, respiratory infections, and other illnesses that endanger the lives of approximately 160,000 to 170,000 individuals, including around 8,500 children in the camp.