Lack of aid increase suffering of IDPs in Ataa al-Khair camp in Syria’s Idlib

Ataa al-Khair camp in western Idlib countryside

IDLIB, Syria – (North Press) – The absence of relief support is the most  suffering of the Syrian IDPs living in Ataa al-Khair camp in Syria's western Idlib countryside, especially those with chronic diseases, camp manager said on Monday.
Abu Ahmed al-Ladqani, the camp manager, told North Press the aid organizations didn't operate for a long time, and the last aid provided to the IDPs was two months ago.

"There are no relief projects to help the IDPs in our camp, but only some local organizations come to distribute relief to the camps in our area," he said.

Ataa al-Khair camp houses about 760 families, who need the simplest elements of daily life, according to the camp manager.

Al-Ladqani added that the monthly relief basket, bread and replacing worn-out tents, especially before winter are among the most important needs of the IDPs in the camp.

The camp residents suffer from a lack of job opportunities and widespread unemployment, and this in turn is reflected on the inability to secure the requirements of life such as food, drink and other necessary needs, the camp manager added.

"The most affected people inside the camp are those who suffer from chronic diseases, as we do not have the ability to provide them with the necessary medication every month, amid the absence of medical points from the camps' gathering," said al-Ladqani.

"The camp contains 90 different medical cases such as kidney failure, heart disease and asthma, in addition to the spread of infections among children."

"There are vaccine teams that come every week for one day, to give routine vaccines, although we have appealed to all organizations for the sick cases, there is no response," he concluded.

Regarding how displaced families manage their daily or monthly expenses, al-Ladqani explained that most families buy on credit their staff from groceries near the camp, while the family's monthly need is approximately $150.

Ataa al-Khair camp is one of the 30 makeshifts in western Idlib countryside. The collection of makeshifts house IDP families from the countryside of Latakia, Idlib and Hama.