By Khalaf Ma’o
TABQA, Syria (North Press) – Amid the ongoing conflict and displacement, IDPs face heartbreaking losses and uncertainty in northern Syria. Forced to flee their homes in Aleppo, they now struggle in camps, separated from loved ones and without basic necessities, as they hold on to fragile hopes of reuniting and rebuilding their lives.
Almassa Rasho, an internally displaced woman from Afrin, who had been relocated from the northern countryside of Aleppo, locally known as Shahba region, to a camp in the city of Tabqa, carries a deeper pain in her heart after losing her son, his wife, and their child, with no knowledge of their fate.
The 60-year-old woman wandered between the tents, searching the faces of others, hoping to find someone with news that could reassure her about her loved ones. Her eyes were filled with worry and confusion, scanning each face, hoping to find someone who might know something about the fate of her family members.
Rasho left her village in Shahba region after Turkish-backed armed factions, aka the Syrian National Army (SNA), took control of Aleppo and its countryside at the end of November.
Forced to leave
“They forced us to leave everything,” says Rasho to North Press. “At first, life was calm, but the terrorist forces entered the village with their weapons and forced the people to leave their homes.”
She adds, “Those moments, in which I lived in immense fear, left deep scars in my heart.” She explains that the militants forced them to leave everything behind, their homes, land, memories, and years of a settled life.
These events prevented the family from reuniting. They were scattered in the chaos of displacement, and Rasho no longer knew the whereabouts of her son and his family.
She moved from one tent to another, asking everyone if they knew any news that could help reunite her family. But she often received heartbreaking responses—just pitying glances or uncertain words.
Almassa Rasho lives in the camp with her husband, who suffers from chronic illnesses. He struggles to move easily as his health deteriorates. He is weak and needs continuous care.
In these circumstances, she is the only one who takes care of him, trying to provide food and drink, and searching for anything that could help him stay alive.
She points out that life in the camps is not easy. Food is limited, medical care is rare, and the bitter cold at night makes everything harder.
Rasho was displaced from Afrin when Turkish forces with SNA factions occupied the city during a Turkish military operation dubbed “Olive Branch” in early 2018. She says the recent attack on northern Aleppo forced her to leave her city once again.
She adds that every day in the camp brings new challenges as she continuously seeks any hope that might bring her family back to her.
Harsh conditions
In the same camp lives Abu Muhammad Habash, a 65-year-old man who has witnessed many significant changes in his life.
He tells North Press that he had once been preparing for a bright future, having married off his son. That moment was filled with hope and joy, representing the beginning of a new life full of aspirations.
He adds that fate quickly turned those dreams into a bitter reality. Just a week after his son’s wedding, a fierce war broke out in the area, forcing many families, including his, to leave their homes and flee to unfamiliar areas.
He explains that they faced enormous challenges and difficulties, and fleeing was not easy. They encountered difficult situations, including being exploited along the way.
Despite these harsh conditions, the man and his family managed to reach Tabqa. The departure was filled with anxiety and anticipation, with mixed feelings of hope and fear of the unknown future. However, hope soon faded. Now, he and his family are in a stadium, without work, shelter, or even basic resources.
Abu Muhammad Habash says their belongings were stolen, and they were evicted from the house they had rented. They are now living in a small tent, and their dreams of stability and safety have shattered.
The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) provided them with some basic services, but these were insufficient to compensate for the losses they had suffered, as he puts it.
He adds that the family now carries compounded pain in their hearts. They had hoped to return to their homes, but that hope has now been completely shattered.