Afrin IDPs excluded from Humanitarian Aid Lists

 International relief organizations continue to disregard the harsh conditions facing Afrin and Shahba’s displaced populations, particularly as winter intensifies their suffering. Many fled with only minimal belongings, while some had nothing but the clothes they were wearing when they were forced into a second displacement following sudden evacuation orders.

 In early December, Turkish-backed mercenaries launched an offensive on Shahba, displacing over 120,000 people. Many sought refuge in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) through designated safe corridors, while others, having lost contact with the main convoys, found shelter in the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods of Aleppo.

 These displaced families have received no assistance from international humanitarian organizations, despite their dire need for food, heating, and winter supplies. The lack of basic necessities such as blankets and heating materials has left them exposed to freezing temperatures.

 In response, local initiatives have stepped in to fill the void. The Free Women’s Foundation in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh distributed essential supplies, including blankets, mattresses, clothing, and food packages for children, on December 14 and 29 of last year.

 Residents of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh have expressed solidarity with the displaced by donating whatever they could spare. Communal organizations have been coordinating these efforts to ensure that the most vulnerable families receive aid first.

 Commenting on the neglect of Afrin and Shahba’s displaced populations, Nouri Sheikho, the Co-chair of the General Council in Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, described their situation as catastrophic.

 Sheikho also highlighted the ongoing instability in Syria, noting that the country’s future remains uncertain amid the collapse of the Ba’ath regime and the downfall of Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Regarding the latest wave of displacement, he stated: "Under the cover of the so-called 'Dawn of Freedom' operation, Turkish-backed gangs launched an attack on the region, forcing civilians to flee in fear of brutal reprisals. They knew all too well what awaited them at the hands of these mercenaries."

 As international aid organizations remain absent, the displaced populations of Afrin and Shahba continue to endure worsening conditions, with no end to their suffering in sight.

 Sheikho reported that approximately 7,000 displaced families have managed—under extremely difficult conditions and on foot—to reach the neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh, as they were unable to join the convoy heading to the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

 In response, the General Council of Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh distributed 50 liters of heating diesel per household to a number of displaced families, drawing from its emergency reserves. However, due to insufficient supplies, the majority of families were unable to receive their share.

 Sheikho highlighted the severe lack of basic necessities among the displaced and the council’s efforts to provide aid within its limited capacity. He stated, "We attempted to distribute heating fuel to all displaced families, but the depletion of our reserves left 5,000 families without any share, while only 2,000 families received theirs."

 He issued an urgent appeal to humanitarian organizations, urging them to intervene and alleviate the suffering of the displaced, emphasizing: "Organizations must stand with the displaced in their ordeal and provide them with comprehensive care. This is not the first time they have been forcibly displaced, and they are exhausted."

 Asmahan Zino, one of the 7,000 displaced families and a mother of five children—one of whom has special needs—now resides in the western section of Sheikh Maqsoud. She confirmed that she has received no aid and called on organizations to prioritize the needs of the displaced, describing the situation as "catastrophic."

 Similarly, Zeinab Qado recounted her experience: "We left our homes and, for some, even our tents behind. We carried only a few belongings, fleeing the Turkish war machine. This is not the first time; it is the second time we have been forcibly displaced while the world watches in silence. States remain inactive, and humanitarian organizations fail to fulfill their role."

 Qado acknowledged the efforts of the Free Women’s Foundation, which has provided some material aid to displaced families. However, she expressed deep frustration over the lack of response from international organizations, warning that the humanitarian crisis will continue to escalate.

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ANHA