Ain Issa: refugees suffer greatly by scorching summer, shortage of water

GIRÊ SIPÎ/ SAMIRA DAWOOD

The Democratic Autonomous Administration in Girê Sipî (Tel Abyad) canton in the Euphrates region opened in November 9, 2016 a camp for refugees in Ain Issa district to embrace al-Raqqa residents who fled Daesh gangs then, the camp, however, holds thousands of the displaced from different northern and other Syrian areas.

Nowadays, Ain Issa district is witnessing scorching temperature which sometimes exceed 45 Celsius degrees, spreading some diseases among the refugees.

Suffering under plastic tents

Due to the high temperature within the tents, refugees are forced to sit outside the plastic heat-confining tents and gather under some patches of cloth they have made themselves.

The high temperature causes diseases to children like measles and fever due to subjection to the sun.

The twin Muhamad and Walid only a year and half, suffered severe high temperature which led to diseases.

Fatima Ahmad, the twin mother, said that they lack any means to cool their tents only they resort to sit in the shade of their tent till sunset, since the temperature within the tent is unbearable, Ahmad added that she pours water on her twin thrice a day to cool them.

Shortage of water, the second biggest problem

Regardless of the high temperature, what added insult to the refugees’ injury is shortage of water.

KONSIR organization for relief in coordination with al-Raqqa Civil Council has launched since last winter a campaign to distribute water in large tanks on all parts of the camp, so the refugees obtain sufficient amounts of water.

With the coming of summer KONSIR stopped distributing water, the camp’s administration rushed to take required measures to the deteriorating problem aiming to fulfill refugees’ need of water as soon as possible.

The camp’s administration in coordination with al-Raqqa Civil Council has operated a pump that supplies land tanks with a capacity of 2,800 barrels within the camp thus fulfilling the camp’s need of water.

However, the pump not operating properly due to damage is working 3 hours instead of 14 according to the camp’s administration.

A refugee describes their suffering and calls for help

Yasin Abdullah a refugee from al-Raqqa city describes their suffering saying, “while we suffer scorching temperature, some parts of the camp have witnessed since a week cut of water which left hundreds of children suffering drought and vulnerable to diseases.”

Yasin added, “The majority of tents here are torn-out and non-habitable due to the violent storm that ravaged the camp before a while”, calling the concerned parties to secure tents and cooling appliances to protect them from the heat, and alleviate their suffering. 

We are trying to find sound solutions for the refugees

The administrator in the Ain Issa district’s camp Jalal Ayaf assured that despite the scarce possibilities they have, they are working on finding suitable solutions for refugees’ problems.”

J.O

ANHA