Aleppo’s Souq al-Harir turned into Shelter for Earthquake Victims
Aleppo, Syria (North Press) – 200 shops in Souq al-Harir have been turned into temporary shelters for about 170 earthquake-affected families, Muhammad Nahhas, member of Aleppo Chamber of Commerce said on Sunday.
The Aleppo Chamber of Commerce runs Souq al-Harir, a market in the western side of Aleppo city which opens during holiday seasons and was set up in cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and Aleppo Governorate.
In an exclusive statement to North Press, Nahhas said, “The souq is not suitable for living but remains a better solution than staying in the open spaces.”
The souq has been transformed into a temporary shelter for affected people until they are relocated to the Sheikh Saeed neighborhood in southern Aleppo and Hanano in the east, he added.
The Aleppo Governorate intends to relocate earthquake-affected people from shelters to housing units in the Sheikh Saeed area south of Aleppo and the city of Hanano to the east.
Amani al-Hussein, 41, from the al-Sukkari neighborhood, said she left her damaged home and only found shelter in a small shop in the Souq.
“It is difficult to live in the Souq as it offers no heating or winter supplies, and little food is given to them,” she noted.
“I only have a simple mat, a few blankets and three mattresses. We covered the door with nylon sheets to stop cold air from entering, but to no use. The situation is difficult,” she said.
Before Feb. 17, the Aleppo City Council had demolished 170 at-risk buildings. The earthquake caused the additional collapse of 60 buildings, according to a previous statement.
Affected families have been settled in temporary accommodations, including schools, and government offices, but difficult living conditions persist.