IDPs from Serê Kaniyê appeal for urgent aid after severe storm 

The tents of the displaced in the Serê Kaniyê and Washokani camps in the countryside of Hasakah city, in Al-Jazira canton, were damaged as a result of the snowstorm and heavy rainfall following the atmospheric depression that affected the North and East Syria region in recent days. This led to the flooding and leakage of water into the tents, and the destruction of furniture such as blankets and foam mattresses, amid a severe shortage of humanitarian aid provided by organizations, primarily heating fuel.

The tents have not been changed for six years, since their forced displacement from Serê Kaniyê city in 2019, after its occupation by the Turkish occupying state and its mercenaries. Most tents have become worn out and unfit for living or for protection from the winter cold, forcing some to patch them up by hand.

According to the administration of the Washokani camp, the percentage of humanitarian aid provided to the camp has decreased to 15%.

In this context, Zahra Sinjar, forcibly displaced from the village of Al-Amiriya affiliated with the occupied city of Serê Kaniyê, pointed to the difficulties they face during rain and snowfall, saying: "Rainwater entered our tent from the ceiling and the floor, and for us, inside the tent and outside became the same, due to the destruction of clothes, furniture, and covers like blankets."

Displaced Zahra contracted asthma due to the high humidity resulting from rainfall and living in difficult humanitarian conditions inside the tent. She says: "There is a shortage of health services, and we do not have the financial ability to buy medicine at our personal expense," demanding a safe return to their occupied city of Serê Kaniyê and its liberation.

For his part, Hassan Al-Azzawi, displaced from the village of Al-Arisha affiliated with the occupied city of Serê Kaniyê, pointed to the urgent need for fuel oil due to the severity of the cold resulting from snowfall and rains, demanding an increase in the quantity provided, and said: "The provided fuel oil is not enough for us."

He added that organizations stopped distribution after the fourth batch of fuel oil, coinciding with the rain and snowstorm, noting that the organizations justified this by a shortage of funding provided to them.

Al-Azzawi demanded the necessity of providing urgent and immediate humanitarian aid, such as changing the tents and providing fuel oil in sufficient quantities, in addition to the urgent need for blankets and foam mattresses, resulting from the destruction of household furniture due to rainfall.

Since the beginning of winter, fuel oil has been distributed in 4 batches at a rate of 160 liters, meaning providing 40 liters every ten days to displaced families. After distributing the fourth batch, organizations stopped providing fuel oil to the displaced.

Meanwhile, the displaced say they need 100 liters every ten days, due to changing weather depressions and the accompanying severe cold.

Meanwhile, displaced Fatima Mohammed confirmed the words of displaced Zahra and Hassan, that the fall of rain and snow increased the suffering of living under tents due to the destruction of their household and tent furniture, as well as their exposure to severe cold due to the stoppage of distribution of the designated heating fuel oil. She said: "Our capabilities are limited and we cannot buy free-market fuel oil."

The Serê Kaniyê camp includes about 2574 families, comprising 15,734 people, while the Washokani camp includes about 2500 families, consisting of about 17,000 people 

A-H 

ANHA