Humanitarian Crisis Impacts Schools in Girê Spî IDP Camp

The schools in Girê Spî IDP camp suffer from a shortage of educational supplies. The earthen floors remain unprepared, and there is a lack of desks and blackboards, as no renovations have been carried out since the schools first opened in 2019. As a result, the coverings (insulating tarpaulins) have deteriorated under harsh weather conditions.

Kamel Othman, spokesperson for the secondary school in the camp, stated: “The schools have not been renovated for more than five years. Most of the coverings and tarpaulins are no longer usable, and the secondary school has been completely out of service since last year due to the absence of coverings.

This forced us to adopt a dual-shift system, which significantly affected the educational process by reducing the number of hours per shift.”

He further stressed that the schools lack the most basic requirements to ensure proper teaching standards, while humanitarian organizations operating in the camp have provided no support despite repeated requests highlighting shortages and needs.

The secondary school in particular requires tarpaulins, flooring, and a proper infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of students.

Othman concluded that they are determined to continue teaching “even if it means conducting classes outdoors,” so that students deprived of education by the Turkish occupation and its proxies can exercise their most basic right to learn.

For her part, Shirin Abdi, Co-Chair of the Education Authority in Euphrates Canton, explained that the Authority currently lacks the resources needed to implement its projects, but intends to approach relevant organizations for support.

She added that, for the time being, the Authority can only repair existing tarpaulins. A special budget allocation for 2026 will include funds to provide new coverings for the camp’s schools.

The camp hosts nearly 7,000 displaced persons from Tal Abyad and its countryside, who were forced out following the Turkish offensive on October 9, 2019. They continue to face harsh living and humanitarian conditions, having lost their main sources of livelihood and with the camp administration struggling due to the inaction of humanitarian organizations.

The Autonomous Administration opened three schools in the camp on November 22, 2019, to serve around 1,500 displaced students, ensuring the continuation of their education. These schools, including Hatem Zidan – Expansion School and Martyr Rabia Ismail Secondary School, operate under the supervision of the General Education Board in Ain Issa.

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ANHA