MANBIJ, Syria (North Press) – Every time media outlets are allowed to enter the camp, Diab al-Diab, a displaced person in New Eastern Manbij camp in northern Syria, hurries to speak out to journalists and demand the improvement of the IDPs’ conditions.
IDPs, including al-Diab, suffer from tremendous difficulties and hard living conditions owing to declining support provided by humanitarian aid organizations.
Diab al-Diab, 53, lives along 630 other families in New Eastern Manbij camp since six years ago when he was displaced from Ma’dan in the east of Raqqa fleeing military operations in the area.
Al-Diab, as other camp’s residents, complains about lack of covers that could prevent rain let in. It is three years since they last changed the covers though they should be changed every year.
In Manbij, there are two camps, New Eastern Manbij camp which houses 630 families making in all 3.258 individuals, and Old Eastern Manbij camp which houses 430 families making in all 2.176 individuals the vast majority suffer from lack of support notably in winters.
Al-Diab said that they suffer from non-availability of diesel owing to retreat by an NGO from the camp which used to pay them in cash to buy diesel from the black market.
Last year, every family got $50 from an NGO to be able to buy diesel.
Owing to the hard living conditions, al-Diab has no capacity to buy diesel from the market. A barrel of diesel is sold in return for 400.000 SYP (about $80), while the camp’s management does not provide them a subsidized diesel.
Insufficient support
Al-Diab added that over the past two years, support has been receding considerably. It has been restricted to a relief aid basket that “makes no difference.”
Al-Diab appealed to the humanitarian organizations to cater for them, “Since two years up to now, there has been a considerable negligence by NGOs. The camp’s residents suffer from lacks of job opportunities and hard living conditions.”
In late June, the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) noted to the need for the United Nations to bear its responsibility towards thousands of IDPs, deportees and refugees dispersed onto tens of camps and to render them help.
Although he lives under a torn apart ten that does not shield him against the heat of summer or the breeze of winter, the man rejected to return to his area which is under the control of Syrian government forces. However, other IDPs in the camp descend from Dayr Hafir and Maskanah in the east of Aleppo which is under the control of the Syrian government as well.
The AANES runs 16 camps with a number of IDPs/refugees reaching 150.000, added to tens of squatter camps in the countryside of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, Tabqa and Manbij, according to Humanitarian Affairs Office of the AANES.
All these camps suffer from catastrophic conditions owing to inaction by the NGOs and the UN in delivering relief and humanitarian aid that have been aggravated by the withdrawal of a number of NGOs, according to AANES’ officials.
Winter-related difficulties
Hussein al-Ubeid, 48, an IDP who lives in the very same camp, has the same dilemma of living under torn apart tents. Al-Ubeid voiced fears over his children who could incur illnesses under such tents.
With the first ever drops of rainfall, IDPs life changes for the worst, as they either spend their nights standing or sleeping on the mud, they claim.
Al-Ubeid complained of piling up mud between tents (corridors) in the camp. He asked for rain insulating covers, raincoats and heaters to address winter breeze.
Amid such claims, North Press sought to contact an official in the camp but no reply was received.
However, in an earlier statement, Yasser al-Misto, official in New Eastern Manbij camp said they contacted NGOs to support the camp amid short of needs.
He told North Press that the vast majority of tents were old ones which do not protect its residents in winter or in summer; they were torn apart.
At the time, al-Misto called on NGOs operating in northeast Syria to support camps in Manbij with necessary items and needs.