In the mid of difficult humanitarian circumstances, Al-Hol camp is being expanded to accommodate its residents
In the mid of difficult humanitarian circumstances, Al-Hol camp is being expanded to accommodate its residents
Management of Al-Hol camp east of Hasakah managed by Self-Administration in North and East of Syria started expanding works of the camp amid appeals by its people for achieving the needs where they are in difficult humanitarian circumstances.
The number of the people living in it exceeded its capacity where the camp organized first for 30 thousand people only, but now there are more than 70 thousand. The number got bigger after Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) evacuated thousands of people from Al-Baghouz town east of Deir Ez-Zour that was under the Islamic State (IS) control.
Al-Hol camp which contains 11 thousand fighters’ wives and more than 50 thousand Iraqi and Syrian emigrants, has become the title page of Arabic and international press lately.
Evacuating thousands of IS families from eastern suburbs of Deir Ez-Zour after being defeated by the SDF east of the Euphrates, was a heavy load on the staff where the camp now is full of emigrants to the extent that there are tents containing more than one family amid bad humanitarian circumstances.
Expanding Works
Since Syrian Democratic Forces took control of Al-Baghouz town -IS last stronghold in the eastern suburbs of Deir Ez-Zour in March 23 till now, the camp has been undergone with two expanding operations in 4 sectors, this will increase the number to 8 on a land area of 10 hectares.
“Al-Hol camp contains about 73 thousand emigrants and refugees.” Majida Amin, one of the camp’s staff said to North Press.
“Before the liberation of Al-Baghouz town, the camp was consisted of only 4 sectors, but now there are 8 sectors, three of them are completely ready and the fourth one will be ready in the coming days.” Amin added.
Despite the expanding works inside the camp, the residents are still complaining about the lack of food aid coming from relief organizations and associations that creates challenges in providing daily needs for those refugees.
Lack of Assistances
At first glance, when going into the camp, one can see the residents standing in long queues in front of relief organizations centers waiting for food baskets amid their suffering from the lack of basic materials such as tents, food, drink and blankets.
Also, high temperature in a desert environment amid the absence of cooling means specially in Ramadan, increased residents’ sufferings.
In this context, Hamad Al-Dahi, an Iraqi refugee said that the atmosphere of Ramadan inside the camp is not bad adding: “We are suffering from the loss of water and cooling means, and the bread isn’t fresh, we are in need of many things but no one listen to us.”
lamya Al-Ali, a refugee from Deir Ez-Zour said that they are suffering a lot due to the loss of aid and high prices of food in the markets appealing the relevant authorities to help them and take care of the difficult humanitarian circumstances they live in.
Commenting on the complaints of the residents of the camp, Majida Amin said that all the of the complaints are “right”. “After the increase in the numbers of the refugees, the burden also increased. Beside few local ones, there are about 10 relief organizations and associations working inside the camp and providing services, but all of the assistance given isn’t enough comparing with the big number of the camp’s residents.” She added.
Showing that: “with the beginning of summer, most of the tents are worn, all of the residents are in need of cooling means, but lack of support prevents providing enough assistance to all of the citizens in the camp.”
At the same time, Amin blamed the relief organizations working inside the camp for causing the deficiencies, “Bureaucracy of those organizations was the reason of the deficiencies, we noticed that the kids are still wearing the coats, this is all because those organizations don’t deal seriously with the bad situation inside the camp.” She said.
Disease Outbreak
Concerning health centers, the situation is the same as it is in front of relief centers, one can see hundreds of sick people waiting in queues to be treated from diseases they got during their accommodation in the camp.
“There are about 400 sick people coming to our center to get treatment every day. Most of them suffer from malnutrition and war injuries.” Masoud Rammo, one of Kurdish Red Crescent cadres told North Press.
Rammo pointed out that they are suffering from the lack of medicine due to the big number of the sick, saying that they are working on opening a hospital inside the camp for the treatment of chronic diseases.
Concerning the hospital they are working on Rammo said that: “It will consist of 25 beds with an operations room, as well as taking care of patients before and after the operation.”
The management of Al-Hol camp with international organizations and associations are trying to open three field hospitals inside the camp in order to provide health care and quick response with pathological conditions. The project got into its final phase of preparation and now they are waiting for the equipment, as the management said.
Hasakah-NPA