IDLIB, Syria (North Press) – The lack of relief organizations' support for the displaced in camps in Syria's northwest, which lack even the minimal essentials of normal human life, raises many questions in light of daily complaints from camp residents who struggle to survive.
At first glance, it seems that this is normal in light of the large numbers of displaced people and the volume of demands compared to the capability of organizations, according to humanitarian reports received continuously from the camps in the area.
However, some local sources indicated that one party – the armed group known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS, formerly al-Nusra Front) controls, pressures, and even imposes fees on the work of the organizations.
"The capacity of humanitarian organizations in the north of Syria is not equal to the displaced's large numbers, which are not met by local organizations' capacity," Hassan Ali, a media activist who lives in a village in the countryside of Idlib, told North Press.
Poor work
He added that "the international organizations are weak, and Turkish organizations are unable to address the shortages and imbalance caused by the absence of the international organizations in the region."
"On the other hand, the presence of HTS in the region has caused many organizations to search for a new place and areas to work far from the north of Syria," he said.
He pointed out that "HTS imposes fees on organizations and takes part of Syrians' relief aid in the north and monopolizes it…[this] led dozens of organizations leaving those areas, which negatively affected the displaced, especially the camp residents."
In the middle of all this, the most prominent feature of the organizations' work is the very low output. A large number of displaced receive only one or two food baskets per year, while they are forced to manage by relying on the debts that burdened them.
"Saudi charities have previously supported those areas, but after the Saudi disagreement with Turkey, the activities of those organizations based in Turkey were suspended," Idlib-based human rights activist Mukhtar Ali told North Press.
"As for European organizations, they do not want to support [the region] because of the HTS presence in Idlib…other organizations provide support directly to the needy without intermediaries, but at the same time they cannot enter Idlib [because of HTS].
HTS has total control of the region, according to local sources who claimed that "they take a cut from every aid truck enters Idlib with the organizations' support.
Even for reconstruction projects for displaced people in the region, they take a percentage in return to allow their establishment. For example, organizations are already doing a 100-room project for displaced people. [HTS] prevents the construction until [they are given] 20 rooms," the source said.
Idlib political activist Abu Ayman Sayed Issa told North Press that "HTS, through the Salvation Government (a Syrian opposition government seen as illegitimate by the main opposition government) took control of the camps through the camp office, where everything must pass through it, and without its permission no one can work. It does not outright prevent anyone from working, but there is a kind of clear obstruction to the organizations' work."
He pointed out that "the presence of HTS has affected the aid flowing to the region, because many countries have reservations about providing support in light of their control in region."
Issa explained that “the funds are still few and do not meet the needs of the miserable situation in those areas.”
The latest report of the United Nations, issued in mid-February, indicated the percentage of shortages caused by the recent displacement due to the battles in the region, which began in May 2019. Until the date of the issuance of the UN report, as it reached 86% for the shelter department, 65% for the tent supply department, 60% for the cash aid department, 49% for the food issue department, and 40% for the health needs department.
It is noteworthy that HTS has complete control in Idlib, and established its civil arm known as the Salvation Government after it expelled the Syrian Interim Government from the area, making it the top entity commanding and controlling the populace.