{"id":114511,"date":"2024-06-05T18:43:04","date_gmt":"2024-06-05T18:43:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/?p=114511"},"modified":"2024-06-05T18:43:06","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T18:43:06","slug":"over-decade-crisis-turns-damascus-to-capital-of-homelessness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/114511\/","title":{"rendered":"Over-decade crisis turns Damascus to capital of homelessness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Safaa Sulayman<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) \u2013 <\/strong>Sidewalks and gardens of Damascus, Syria’s capital and the oldest current capital in the world, are full of homeless people. This phenomenon was rare before the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Destruction of thousands of houses of people in many areas such as the Eastern Ghouta, al-Hajar al-Aswad and Darayya of Rif Dimashq in addition to neighborhoods in Damascus forced a great number of people to sleep in the streets causing an unprecedented phenomenon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the homeless lost their properties due to the state of insecurity resulting from the war, along with disintegration of other families and IDPs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The skyrocketing cost of renting under the dire circumstances of living also exacerbated the situation. For example, hiring a room with no furniture costs at least 700,000 to 1 million SYP ($75) in the suburbs of Damascus in comparison with the population’s modest income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the phenomenon has exacerbated on the sidewalks and in the public gardens. In Khawla Bint al-Azwar garden in Damascus, surrounded by a number of Damascus-old-style houses in Bab Toma neighborhood, the garden there is considered a \u201chouse\u201d for three homeless individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Thieves stole me and left unpunished”  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Andre, 60, has been sleeping in the garden for three years after he lost everything he had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI used to work as a goldsmith in a Jaramana neighborhood in Damascus, but I was robbed about three years ago and the thieves were never caught,\u201d he tells North Press.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He adds, \u201cI became indebted to many people, so I had to close the workshop to pay off my liabilities.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I have been sleeping in the garden since then in the chamber of the power station.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He pointed out that he faces harassment from some young men, in addition to the possibility of some thieves or scoundrels entering the garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The old man says he cannot afford hiring a room to live in, so at night, when it gets very cold, he stays in the chamber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Destroyed by war”<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mamdouh al-Zoubi, a homeless sleeps in Khawla Bint al-Azwar Garden, tells North Press that he used to sleep in the garden for nine years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He sleeps in the garden after his house has been destroyed by war. He was living in the village of al-Hujayra, south of Damascus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fadiya Aqel, a female homeless form Latakia Governorate, says she sleeps on pieces of cardboard without a cover, explaining that she has suffered a lot and she counts on people\u2019s welfare.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vulnerable people<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rasha al-Eisaymi, a psychologist, says the homeless are individuals or groups who are forced to flee or leave their homes as a result of the armed clashes, violence, human rights violations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She points out that from a psychologist\u2019s perspective; every person has basic needs such as food, shelter, safety, love, love of homeland, esteem, and appreciation of beauty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This negatively impacts mental health, according to al-Eisaymi, leading to the development of many psychological problems and disorders such as loneliness, isolation, depression, anxiety, psychosis, schizophrenia, loss of life meaning, reduced hope, and addiction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The psychologist indicates that homeless people are among the vulnerable groups in society and they are exposed to violence, sexual exploitation, harassment, and human trafficking, which exacerbates the problems and challenges they face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the World Report 2024<\/a>, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) said, \u201cDisplacement remains one of the direst and protracted consequences of the war. Since the start of the armed conflict in 2011, 12.3 million have been forced to flee the country, according to OCHA, with 6.7 million currently internally displaced across the country.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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