Conflict drives thousands to seek shelter in Qamishli and Amouda
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Nearly 5,000 families from northern Syria have sought refuge in northeastern cities over the past weeks due to deteriorating security conditions, the Autonomous Administration reported on Saturday.
Zahra Sam’u, co-chair of the Social Affairs Board in the region, told North Press that approximately 3,000 families from Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, as well as Aleppo’s eastern countryside, arrived in the region after initially fleeing to areas in Raqqa and Al-Tabqa roughly two weeks ago.
An additional 1,000 families from Sere Kaniye (Ras al-Ain), Tel Abyad, and surrounding towns—previously displaced to Hasakah and its countryside—have relocated again to Qamishli, Amuda, and Dêrik amid continued instability.
Sam’u added that about 500 Kurdish families from Raqqa and al-Tabqa have also arrived in the region in response to ongoing military tensions and worsening security conditions.
Displaced families are currently staying in schools across Qamishli, Amouda, Dêrik, and Dirbasiyah, as well as in mosques and emergency shelters. Dozens of families have been moved to Nowruz Camp in the rural area of Dêrik, which was established five years ago to host residents displaced from Sere Kaniye and Tel Abyad.
Sam’u described the humanitarian situation as “challenging,” citing shortages in essential services and basic necessities despite local initiatives and support from humanitarian organizations. She stressed that “the volume of needs remains large and requires an urgent response.”
The Autonomous Administration continues coordinating with local authorities and humanitarian actors to provide immediate assistance, though the ongoing influx of displaced families underscores the pressing need for sustained support.