HASAKAH, Syria (North Press) – On Thursday, at least 15 local and international organizations suspended their missions in the Hawl Camp after Turkish air raids against a security picket in charge of the camp on Wednesday.
Sheikhmus Ahmad, the co-chair of the Office of IDPs and Refugees Affairs in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES), told North Press, “The Recent attack against the camp impinged upon all aspects of life in and outside the camp.”
Ahmad believed the attack by Turkey is a message to humanitarian NGOs, the United Nations, the US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and the Islamic State (ISIS).
Ahmad said most NGOs operating in the camp have suspended their missions despite the camp management’s calls for them to continue work and render aid to Syrian IDPs and Iraqi refugees in the camp.
The Kurdish official expressed his sorrows over the decision taken though the situation in the camp remains under control.
Late on Wednesday, Turkish warplanes attacked the outskirts of the camp, including a military post for those responsible for guarding and watching the camp.
Eight members were killed in the attack, according to a statement released by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Ahmad said that the Kurdish Red Crescent, Red Cross and Blumont still operate in the camp.
The official noted the aim of the Turkish raids is to threaten NGOs, and that these threats are no less than threats posed by the families of ISIS who are present in the camp.
He indicated that another aim of such attacks is to halt services and activities in the camp that could create disorder there.
The official noted that suspension of the missions by the NGOs would impinge upon the camp amid dire living conditions, calling on all NGOs to resume work.
In turn, Jiyan Henan, Co-chair of the camp management told North Press that “more than 15 association and local and international organizations halted their activities in the camp.”
She noted such NGOs cited security fears in the aftermath of the Turkish strikes.
There are nearly 30 local and international organizations operating in Hawl Camp which is home to nearly 53.000 Syrian IDPs, Iraqi refugees and families of the ISIS militants.