IDPs women in Washo Kani describe their painful experiences

Located 12 kilometers north of al-Hasakah city, Washu Kani camp is home to 2,156 families, totaling approximately 116,276 individuals, according to the latest statistics. These forcibly displaced persons fled Serekaniye after its occupation by Turkey and its allied militias in October 2019. They continue to endure extremely difficult living conditions, exacerbated by soaring temperatures and severe water shortages.

At the break of dawn, 45-year-old Hasina Mohammed Ali rises to stand by the camp’s water tanks, anxiously awaiting the arrival of water trucks. For six years, she has repeated this daily ritual  a never-ending journey of thirst.

Hasina Ali, a forcibly displaced woman, sorrowfully observes the empty tank and says, “For years, we have suffered from water scarcity alongside the bitterness of being uprooted from our homes and lands. The problem worsens because many people connect hoses from the tanks directly to their tents, leaving nothing for the rest of us.”

Nearby, 50-year-old Zahra Ibrahim, weakened by illness and exhaustion, carries heavy water containers under the scorching sun. Despite her weary smile, her voice reveals pain: “I suffer from many health problems due to carrying water. The distance is long, and the containers are heavy, but we have no choice our lives depend on these containers.”

Meanwhile, 30-year-old displaced woman Sana Ali stands tired outside her tent after her second trip to fetch water. Her story unfolds in a voice broken between complaint and hope: “Many tents are far from the water tanks, forcing us to carry water over long distances. Despite all this, the amount we get is not enough for drinking, washing, and running air conditioners. We demand more water tanks and increased water supplies.”

Amid the voices of women and their dreams for sufficient water for their children, ANHA agency’s correspondents conveyed these demands to the camp administration. Kozivan Haso, an official with the camp’s service committee, shared part of the story:

“Due to reduced support from civil society organizations, water supplies in Washu Kani camp have dwindled. We urgently need assistance from international and humanitarian organizations to increase water quantities and tank capacities.”

Thus, the story remains open: women stand by water tanks waiting for a drop of life, while the administration awaits support that may or may not arrive, as thirst grows day by day inside the heat-burdened and worry-laden Washo Kani camp.