IDPs in Syria’s Raqqa have no heating fuel yet
RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – The delay in distributing heating fuel to the IDPs of the city of Tel Abyad, north of Raqqa, northern Syria, and those residing in Tel al-Samen camp, sparked the dissatisfaction of residents in the camp, as they only get promises.
The distribution of heating fuel to the camp’s residents will be within the next few days, Ali al-Abbo, head of the services department in Tel al-Samen camp for the Tel Abyad IDPs, said on Monday.
Residents of the camp complain about the delay in distributing their heating fuel allowances, amid a drop in temperatures.
Tel al-Samen camp is located in the countryside of Ain Issa town, 35 km north of Raqqa. It was opened by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) for the displaced from the city of Tel Abyad and its countryside.
“Our situation is miserable. We have been in December now and there are no heaters, no diesel,” said Halima al-Bozan, 55, a mother of six and member of the commune in the camp.
“People keep asking for fuel and blame us for that, while officials of the AANES just give promises,” she added.
Mustafa Muslim, 37, a father of eight, the oldest of whom is 13, said most of the camp’s residents lack heating, and the children and the elderly are affected the most.
The low temperatures at night make the matter worse, as the tents do not protect them from the cold, which has caused many children to catch colds and flu, North Press reported Muslim.
Tel al-Samen camp houses more than 6,000 people; about 1,200 families, most of whom are children, women and the elderly.
Some families buy diesel from the villages surrounding the camp, but only few quantities due to the high price of it on the black market, 800 Syrian pounds per liter.
Each family’s allocation is 450 liters where they will get 50 liters a week, according to al-Abbo.