Quake-hit Aleppo countryside endures “catastrophic” conditions – AANES
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Humanitarian condition in the areas run by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) in Aleppo and its northern countryside is “catastrophic,” an official of the AANES said on Thursday.
The Co-chair of Executive Council of the AANES, Berivan Khaled, said the Feb.6 earthquakes and the government ongoing siege on Ashrafiyeh and Sheikh Maqaoud neighborhoods in Aleppo and the town of Tel Rifaat and camps for the Afrin IDPs in Aleppo northern countryside have resulted in “catastrophic” humanitarian conditions.
The two neighborhoods, in addition to the IDPs camps and villages in the northern countryside of Aleppo are housing the IDPs of Afrin who fled the violations and the invasion of the Turkish army and the Turkish-backed armed opposition factions since their control of Afrin in 2018.
Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh have become a safe haven for many people from both inside and outside the city of Aleppo. This has led to the activation of trade and industrial movement, but the Syrian government besieges them frequently.
Also, both Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh enjoy security and stability better than that of the other neighborhoods in Aleppo, which made them to be a target of the armed opposition factions several times.
The neighborhoods are separated from the other neighborhoods in Aleppo by three government security checkpoints; Ashrafiyeh, Awared, and Maghsalat al-Jazira.
Days ago, a delegation of the AANES visited the two Kurdish-majority neighborhoods and Aleppo northern countryside to inspect conditions of the people affected by the devastating earthquake.
The northern countryside of Aleppo Governorate, also known as Shahba region, houses IDPs of the Kurdish city of Afrin.
The Turkish military operation “Olive Branch” caused the displacement of about 300.000 of the original inhabitants of the Kurds of Afrin.
There are about 16.000 displaced families from Afrin distributed over 42 villages and towns in Shahba region, in addition to 1.870 families, comprising 7.500 individuals, now living in the camps of Barkhodan, Sardam, Afrin, al-Awda, and Shahba, according to the Social Affairs and Labor Board of the Afrin region, currently operating in Aleppo northern countryside.
The co-chair of the AANES Executive Council noted that over 3.000 families, numbering 60.000 individuals, fled to the northern countryside of Aleppo fearing buildings’ collapse.
She added in a statement to North Press, “The IDPs were sheltered in camps and safer centers, but the region urgently needs aid and basics amid the ongoing siege by the Syrian government.”
The 4th Armored Division of the government forces has been banning the entry of life-saving aid, medications and other basics for six months amid dire humanitarian conditions the region is witnessing.
The official stressed, “Those people urgently need relief supplies, warming means, children formula, medications and other medical supplies.”
She noted that the administration has done all it can to support the affected people, “but the catastrophe is quite heavy and exceed our capabilities, especially when it comes to reconstructing damaged areas.”
Speaking of the need to international support, she said, “We received promises by external parties and international organizations for support, but so far no practical steps have been taken.”
She also stressed the need for the international community to put pressure on the Syrian government to open crossings for aid to flow towards the earthquake-affected areas in Aleppo northern countryside.