Summer increases suffering of Serêkaniyê Camp residents

With the arrival of summer, the suffering of displaced people living in camps is once again intensifying, especially in the Serêkaniyê camp located east of Hasakah. ANHA Agency monitored the conditions of displaced residents in the camp, particularly women, who spoke about the details of their daily lives amid international neglect and a severe shortage of essential aid.

Displaced woman Yashar Al-Ahmad said that daily hardships worsen with the onset of summer and rising temperatures, stressing that staying inside tents has become unbearable. She added that residents face the same suffering during winter because of freezing cold and flooding caused by heavy rain that hit the camp this year. Yashar called for allowing them to return to their city of Serêkaniyê.

She added: “As summer approaches and temperatures rise, there is no place where we can sit or seek shelter. Our suffering increases because of electricity cuts and water shortages. We also face major difficulties obtaining healthcare services, which are limited or sometimes unavailable. We have facilities designated to maintain privacy, but they are in very poor condition due to the lack of water and electricity.”

Yashar explained that she now plays the role of both father and mother after the death of her husband, noting that she is ready to work inside the camp if job opportunities become available in order to support her family. She pointed out that she previously worked at the Women’s House within reconciliation committees for a symbolic wage.

For her part, displaced woman Kozal Mohammed said: “We face many difficulties inside the camp, both in summer and winter, suffering from extreme heat and cold in addition to daily hardships that affect our psychological and physical health.”

Kozal called for a radical solution to the suffering of displaced people through returning to their cities and homes and living safely and peacefully away from psychological pressures.

She also noted that their suffering worsened after international organizations withdrew from the camp, especially regarding healthcare services, doctors, and basic supplies.

She added: “Today, all we want is to return to our homes. Since the moment we left, we have suffered from problems and difficulties securing daily necessities, which has increased psychological and physical pressures and created many problems within families.”

Meanwhile, Sumaya Oti spoke about the daily difficulties she faces in securing basic necessities such as water and hygiene materials, which now require large amounts of money. She stressed that displacement has greatly affected her psychological and physical health.

She said: “Every day we struggle to secure our needs inside the camp, especially after international organizations that used to provide part of our essential needs withdrew. Today we have to buy everything ourselves amid the absence of a breadwinner and lack of job opportunities, which doubles our suffering. One of the biggest problems we face daily is water shortages inside the camp.”

At the end of her remarks, Sumaya Oti expressed hope for returning home and ending this suffering.

ANHA