MSF reports looting, damage at al-Hawl Camp clinics in northeast Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) said on Tuesday that several of its medical sites in al-Hawl Camp in northeast Syria were looted and that medical materials and supplies were damaged during recent military escalation in the area, adding that its teams have now resumed basic healthcare services inside the camp.
In a statement, the organization said: “Our teams have now regained the ability to work in the camp and resumed essential healthcare services. However, it has become clear that some of the sites where MSF was operating were looted, and medical materials and supplies were damaged.”
Al-Hawl Camp, located in the countryside of Hasakah, hosts thousands of families linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) group and is one of the largest displacement camps in North and East Syria. According to MSF, the organization lost access to the camp during the recent escalation.
“During the military escalation in northeast Syria, MSF lost access to al-Hawl Camp,” the statement said.
The organization added that despite the security situation, its teams were able to continue operating the camp’s water treatment station. “During the escalation, our teams managed to keep running our water treatment unit and pumping safe drinking water to people detained in al-Hawl Camp,” MSF said.
According to local sources, al-Hawl Camp came under the supervision of the Syrian government about a week ago, after it was handed over by the SDF through mediation by US forces.
Humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that any disruption to aid operations in the camp could have serious consequences for residents, particularly women and children, who make up the majority of the population.
MSF called on all parties involved in the conflict to ensure safe humanitarian access. “We urge all parties to the conflict to guarantee that all people affected by the renewed fighting in northeast Syria can safely access humanitarian services, including the residents of al-Hawl Camp,” the organization said.
The group did not provide further details on the extent of the damage to its facilities or the amount of supplies lost, but said its teams are continuing to assess needs and restore services as security conditions allow.