RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – Zaher tries to get clothes for his children to shield them against the breeze of winter. He eventually finds some but there are worn out so he asks his wife to patch them up. He has no financial capacity to buy new or even second-hand ones.
Zaher Suwyed, 36, an IDP who lives in Hatash IDP camp, some 30 km north of Raqqa city, complains about the bad situation in the camp. He and other IDPs in the camp appeal for aid and help.
IDPs living in makeshift camps in the countryside of Raqqa endure unbearable living conditions among other things. Torn tents, lack of aid, non-availability of heating devices and diesel all aggravate their lives.
Swayed says his children are subject to breeze of the winter. “They are freezing,” he said, adding that tents do not protect them from rains. The man calls on NGOs to render help and heating oil.
IDPs resort to dangerous methods to make their children feel warm such as burning wood, plastic, shoes or other things that cloud be gathered from the ground and could create warm.
In front of her tent, Fatoma al-Hassan, 64, complains about the bad situation in the camp and says, “Children are barefooted and have no clothing.”
To avert the cool of winter, the old woman sends her children to pick up wood and hay from nearby fields. With rarity of woods, she helps the children in collecting corn reeds after harvest.
Smoke rising from such cause health problems, especially for children, but they have no other choices as NGOs render no support.
Al-Hassan says they cannot afford to buy medicines amid skyrocketing prices. They could barely afford buying basic needs amid lack of aid.
There are some 58 makeshift camps in the countryside of Raqqa living in dire economic and humanitarian conditions as NGOs no longer render support.
With no hearting devices, children of Eid al-Hamed, 43, got cold. He could not take them to a doctor owing to his financial shortages.
He says his children suffer from cold, measles and respiratory problems. “They are exhausted.”
Recently, an acute flu has been on the rise in northern Syria claiming lives of children.
“We are overwhelmed by the winter,” the man says appealing for new tents that could shield them against rain.
Fatem al-Omar, 60, calls for new tents, and appeals to NGOs to provide them with water-proof covers, tents and aid. “We have nothing, not even soap.”
She says her tent is torn out and no longer protects them. “We are in a terrible situation.”
Although repeated and constant appeals are made by IDPs to NGOs to provide tents among other things, all these appeals fell on deaf ears.
Dabiya al-Jassim, 40, an IDP who lives in the camp, says all IDPs are enduing hard living conditions.
Al-Jassim told North Press that children that get cold stay on bed for a couple of months, as they cannot see a doctor owing to destitution. Among others, leishmania and measles are very common diseases in the camp.
Al-Jassim says NGOs do not render aid or any kind of support that could suffice the whole members of a family. “They provide a six-member family an aid that rarely suffices two persons.”