"We have more than 80 shelters" – Organizations Office in al-Jazira
Hasakah – North-Press Agency
Jindar Abdul Qader / Avin Sheikhmous
The Turkish military invasion with the affiliated armed opposition groups on several areas in northeastern Syria have resulted in a large wave of displacement from areas of Ein-Issa, Tal Abyad (Gre Spi), Ras al-Ain (Sere-Kaniye) and their countryside. The Turkish military invasion prompted local residents to seek refuge in safer areas in Raqqa, Hasakah, Qamishli, and other cities far from the military operations.
The city of Hasakah and its countryside have received thousands of families fleeing their areas due to the Turkish military attacks and violations by the National Army groups, where the majority of families from Ras al-Ain, Abu Rasin (Zargan), Tal Tamr and their countryside settled in Hasakah.
Displacement as a result of military attacks and violations
Lawyer Khaled Ibrahim, the head of the Organizations' Affairs Office in al-Jazira region told North-Press that the wave of displacement witnessed in different parts of the region and most of northeastern Syria has become known in terms of the number and problems facing them. Ibrahim also pointed out that there are more than 80 shelters (schools) in the al-Jazira region only, the number of families has exceeded 4,000 families, and the number of displaced people has exceeded 150,000 in al-Jazira region.
He added that the greatest pressure is in the city of Hasakah, which received the displaced people in 68 schools, whereas there are thousands of families went to their relatives, or rented houses in Hasakah and its countryside. He continued that there were many families who received two families, three and four, which put great pressure on the various livelihoods in the city, which previously suffered from a lot of disadvantages in the services as water, food and other aspects of life.
Absence of the role of international organizations
Khaled Ibrahim pointed out that local organizations and associations have provided the largest assistance despite their weak capabilities, while international organizations, unfortunately, withdrew since the beginning of the military invasion. He added that the organizations sent messages telling them that they cannot work under this political and military equation, hoping to return in the next stage; however, they have some light work with some local partners, but unfortunately it does not meet the needs.
Political equations
He also criticized the U.N. agencies describing their work as too slow to respond, because they are linked to political equations from one side or the other. He stressed the effective role of local associations according to their potential, in addition, the Autonomous Administration helped a lot and provided in the event of the inability of associations and organizations to respond to the requirements.
Ibrahim spoke about the displaced people at Washo-Kani camp, which is located in the area of Twaina, 12 km west of Hasakah, and the arrival of 142 families until November 6. He pointed out that the situation in some of the schools that have become sheltering centers is deplorable because of the instability of the displacement wave, and its change with the continuation of fighting in the areas of Zargan, Tal Tamr and their countryside.
He pointed out that the Autonomous Administration and its institutions provided many necessities such as; tents, water, food and clothing. “There are hundreds of families who arrive suddenly after midnight, which weighs heavily on us to meet the needs," Ibrahim said.
Difficulty of securing supplies
"Securing some basic items in local markets has become a difficult and missing task especially supplying water, which has become a very difficult task, after targeting Alouk water supply station in the city of Hasaka and its countryside, where water is delivered to about 700,000 people," Ibrahim said.
He explained that they have huge numbers of children, more than 500 babies in these centers, and they have about 500 pregnant women, despite the presence of medical centers, they have many problems with regard to the medical section, such as the birth of a woman on floord or in a school lacks the most basic elements of life.
It is noteworthy that the city of Hasakah and its countryside has received thousands of displaced people from the areas of Ras al-Ain and its countryside since the start of the Turkish military invasion in the region on October 9, which caused a humanitarian disaster in those areas.