{"id":89447,"date":"2022-12-23T07:50:53","date_gmt":"2022-12-23T07:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/?p=89447"},"modified":"2022-12-23T07:50:54","modified_gmt":"2022-12-23T07:50:54","slug":"old-woman-builds-clay-ovens-to-make-living-in-camp-in-syrias-raqqa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/npasyria.com\/en\/89447\/","title":{"rendered":"Old woman builds clay ovens to make living in camp in Syria’s Raqqa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

RAQQA, Syria (North Press) – <\/strong>With hardened hands, Maryam al-Mahmoud, an IDP in her seventies in the makeshift al-Hatash IDP camp south of Raqqa, north Syria, mixes a pile of mud and a handful of hay to make it a homogeneous mixture to build a \u201cwawi.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wawi is a hand-made fire stove largely used by IDPs in camps in the countryside of Raqqa. It is similar to a clay oven, but is smaller in size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In al-Hatash that is some 30 km distance in north Raqqa, al-Mahmoud builds pieces of \u201cwawi\u201d to maintain her family and that of her deceased son. Maryam has three daughters, four granddaughters and her sister in law.<\/p>\n\n\n

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To make the substances undergo fermentation, the elderly woman prepares in advance a pile of mud that she is going to turn to a clay stove in the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She mixes it with a handful of hay to make it stronger and a more coherent one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the mixture is well fermented, the old woman burns it to become ready for use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Al-Mahmoud says she is compelled to such a harsh work to maintain a living for her daughters and her sons’ orphans; all daughters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

IDPs living in al-Hatash camp, mostly from Deir ez-Zor, endure unbearable hard living conditions and humanitarian difficulties, owing to rarity of provided aid, winter-related items, and needs such as diesel and new tents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maryam does not know her exact age, \u201cI am really exhausted I am no longer able to proceed the profession.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Al-Mahmoud and her family have been living in al-Hatash IDP camp for three years, she makes the \u201cwawi\u201d clay ovens to earn a living for her family and that of her son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vast majority of the camp\u2019s residents endure lack of diesel and winter-related items and needs. She has told her sister in law to collect firewood, straw and the like from nearby fields to be used for heating and cooking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women living in makeshift camps used to work – though sporadically – on fields to earn a living and collect straw and wood to be used for heating among other purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 58 makeshift camps in the countryside of Raqqa whose residents endure hardships and difficulties, owing to lack of rendered aid and support. A majority of operating NGO have withdrawn from camps.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Al- Mahmoud has the capacity of building 2-3 clay stoves in a week. She sells the pieces to locals of nearby villages. She has earned fame in the profession. She has become a destination for those people who want to get a \u201cWawi.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although she sells her production at a cheap price estimated at 4.000 Syrian pounds (SYP), she continues to work as she cannot stop producing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said, \u201cOthers have either a son or a husband that could earn a living for children, I have none but God\u2019s mercy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added, “I am really exhausted I am no longer able to proceed the profession.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Al-Mahmoud wishes to receive a hand of help to alleviate her burdens and be able to avert setback and illnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reporting by Ibrahim al-Issa <\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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