Damascus government checkpoints seize more than half of aid

The co-chair of the Afrin and al-Shahba canton council said that the Damascus government has tightened the siege on al-Shahba canton at a time when the region is going through a humanitarian catastrophe. It prevents the passage of relief materials to it until most of it is seized.

27 February, 2023 01:03

Shahba - Alain Rashid

The earthquake that struck the region, on February 6, left many areas in Syria devastated and thousands of victims, and more than 3,066 families flocked from the affected areas; As a result of the earthquake, Al-Shahba canton, while the Damascus government tightens its siege on the canton and prevents the passage of aid to it.

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria sent aid convoys to the affected people in the affected areas through the al-Tayha crossing in the city of Manbij, but the Damascus government's checkpoints refused their passage, within the framework of the siege policy imposed on the canton.

In this regard, the co-chair of the Afrin and al-Shahba canton council, Malak al-Hussein, said, "After the earthquake that occurred at dawn on February 6, the Autonomous Administration in al-Shahba mobilized its limited capabilities to alleviate the suffering of the people in al-Shahba canton and those coming from the areas affected by the earthquake."

And she continued: "In light of this humanitarian catastrophe, the region suffers from a suffocating siege imposed by the Damascus government, as it prevents the entry of the necessary materials and aid provided by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria to the canton, as well as aid coming from other regions."

And she added, "If these barriers allow the passage of aid, then at a great price, as they allowed the entry of 100 tanks of diesel fuel, of which (the Damascus government) had the largest share, 60 tanks."

Regarding the expansion of Sardam camp and setting up new tents, Malak said: "Currently, and within the limited capabilities, we are setting up 300 tents in Sardam camp in order to accommodate families whose homes were severely damaged by the earthquake, whether they are from al-Shahba canton or from Aleppo."

Malak stressed that the Autonomous Administration is trying, according to the limited capabilities, to secure peoples requirements. "We distributed some tents, but we distributed them to the people to relieve them as much as possible."

She added, "The People's Municipality distributes building materials to families whose homes were damaged, and the Autonomous Administration has set up 50 tents in schools that have been severely damaged."

At the end of her speech, Malak called on international organizations to support the region more, and called on the Damascus government to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid convoys into the canton.

ANHA