More than 4,000 IDPs suffer Harsh Situation Northern Idlib
In recent weeks, the number of displaced persons in northwestern Syria has critically increased as a result of the escalating hostilities in de-escalation zones in the governorates of Idlib, Hama, Aleppo, and Latakia.
The Safsafa IDP center, to the west of Salqin in the northern countryside of Idlib, which lacks support amid the increasing number of IDPs.
“North Press” surveyed the situation in the camp, which suffers the lack of services in a large extent as the tragedy described by its inhabitants, where health and other services are missed from the list of services for IDPs in the center.
The center’s population has doubled to about 4,000 IDPs, fleeing southern countryside of Idlib, and the northern and western countryside of Hama, whose houses have been destroyed by ground and air shelling.
Safsafa IPDs stated that the sudden increase in the number of displaced people has forced some people to sleep in the outdoor under olive trees next to the camp.
Wael al-Muhammad, the camp manager, told North Press that some of the IDPs who had come to Safsafa camp had been forced to stay outdoors in the surroundings of the camp because there wasn’t enough shelter for them inside the camp, which was set up in 2015.
The manager added that some of the new IDPs did not bring anything of their belongings, which made them sleep on the ground, he also pointed out that the camp suffers poor sanitation and the absence of a fixed medical point, that is not available even in the neighboring camps.
“We hope to die”
Matar Muhammad, a displaced civilian from the plain of AL-Ghab, northwest Hama, tells the story behind his displacement, which goes back due to the intensive shelling by the Syrian Government and Russian Air Forces. They fled their homes without bringing any of their belongings and were forced to stay for days without a shelter next to the camp.
He added that those who were able to buy a tent had protected themselves and their families, while many other families remained displaced outdoors without any attention by humanitarian and relief organizations.
Al-Haj Abu Nawaf summed up his tragedies and those with him in Safsafa camp by saying: “No one has ever been in such a bad situation like ours”, he continued: “There is no food nor water, we left our belongings in our homes when we escaped with our lives, we hope to die because of this miserable condition of living, no money has left with us to meet our needs .”
The camp, which was established four years ago, was initially supported by Maram Organization for relief and development, Khairat Association and the Red Crescent, while support operations were suspended after a year, bread was provided the camp by Sakan Organization, in addition to water supply by PAH Organization (Polish Humanitarian Action), however, the support was stopped due to the end of contracts.
Idlib – North-Press
Agency
Bashar Al-Fares