Tirbê Sipî’s residents complain about the effects of crude oil refining stations

RENAS RAMO–KHADAR IBRAHIM-QAMISHLO

After the outbreak of the Syrian crisis, crude oil refining stations (incinerators) were developed to produce oil and gasoline products after losing them in the oil markets throughout Syria to meet the needs of the market and to obtain a good financial revenue that contributes to the family income.

There are 352 oil refining stations (incinerators). The continuous work of these oil refineries causes the emission of dense black clouds that cover the area and the surrounding villages, as well as the emission of unpleasant gases and smells in the surrounding area. To decompose the materials" diesel, gasoline, and kerosene" from each other.

Fear of the spread of malicious diseases

Emissions of smoke clouds and unpleasant odors cause shortness of breath among parents, especially with the onset of summer and most people sleep outside the bedrooms "sleeping in the courtyard of the house", in addition to fears of other diseases.

Dr. Adnan Attia Al-Hussein, a specialist in chest and heart diseases, said that there were many cases of respiratory, chest, and even skin diseases due to fumes from oil refining stations (incinerators) in the district.

Al-Hussein warned of the spread of indirect diseases "skin cancer, leukemia, liver cancer" and direct diseases such as suffocation and asthma. About the number of cases of chest diseases and cancers, Hussein said that there are no accurate statistics because of the orientation of each patient to a private doctor to treat his condition.

The concerned parties did not fulfill their previous promises

After Environment Directorate belonging to Local administration    and Municipalities in al-Jazeera region received the complaints of the parents, the directorate issued in October 2017 a resolution, which included the cessation of the work of the initial incinerators but the decision did not come into force.

On the other hand, the local administration and municipalities in al-Jazeera region issued a resolution on 2-8-2017, which requires that with the increase of the incidence of arson, its damage is increasing. According to the content of the decision, the owners of the oil refining stations (incinerators) must pay a fine of 50,000 SYP each month for the large( incinerators) and 30,000 SYP for small(incinerators), in addition to the cultivation the trees in the area to reduce the damage caused by oil refining (incinerators )to the environment.

Increasing complaints about the oil refineries

Hawar news agency (ANHA) interviewed with a number Tirbê Sipî district's citizens. Marwan Mohammed al-Ali said that the fire caused many health and environmental problems in the district and the emergence of some diseases in children.

Al-Ali said that they could not go out during the evening to sleep in courtyard of the house because of the unpleasant smells and smoke caused by the burning of oil waste near the center of the area.

Promises to move the incinerators away from the residential areas

In its turn, the Environment Directorate belonging to the local administration and municipalities in al-Jazeera region is working to transfer incinerators outside the residential area back to the center of Sadekob fuel.

According to the officials of the administration of the Sadekop Center told (ANHA), they are working on a project to move the incinerators outside the residential areas, while date of transfer or the time specified for the implementation of the project is not set yet.

(T/S)

ANHA